Overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list? If you’re struggling to accomplish everything that needs to get done, try establishing a routine that keeps you on track. These tips for increasing productivity are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and will help you check off everything on your to-do list.

1. Determine a system for prioritizing tasks

Identifying which tasks are most important each day helps you ensure that you are allocating your time effectively and staying on track with your goals. Many planners have guides for prioritizing tasks, such as to-do lists with sections for your “top three priorities,” and you can also easily note your top tasks for the day on your own by the order on your to-do list or with stars, for example.

2. Organize your day strategically

Did you know that different people perform better at different times throughout the day? According to Medical Daily, it is important to listen to your body’s natural clock and learn how your mind works best to increase your productivity levels. Once you have determined which tasks are most important and when you work best, plan to accomplish your more important tasks during your high-performance time of day.

For example, I find that I am most creative and productive during the first half of the day, so I always plan to tackle the projects that require more brain power, such as writing blog posts, in the morning and save the tasks that are more manual and less creative, such as posting pre-written social media copy, for the afternoon.

3. Work in an environment where you can focus

If you work from home, creating an environment where you are able to focus without distractions, such as TV, roommates or family members, is extremely important to improve productivity. Having a dedicated space is also beneficial for work-life balance when working remotely because it helps your brain differentiate between work and home.

If you do not work in-office or have an environment in which you can focus at home, try working at a coffee shop, library or co-working space and see what works best for you.

4. Take breaks

Did you know that regular breaks help decrease stress and increase productivity? If you feel yourself losing focus, it’s more productive to take a short break from your task and return to it later rather than trying to push through in the wrong headspace.

5. Do the hardest thing first

Our last tip to improve productivity is to do the hardest thing on your to-do list first. Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t actually that hard, you are just putting it off because, for some reason, you have a mental block with the task. It may simply be that you haven’t given the project much thought yet, or maybe you have to make a phone call that you are nervous about. Whatever the task you’re dreading is, once you get that out of the way, the rest of your to-do list will flow more easily.

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