Everyone strives to be a master ‘doer,’ and many of us find ourselves searching for the magic bullet that will solve all of our problems. But productivity isn’t one-size-fits-all. The first step toward being more productive lies in intelligently scheduling your day and really understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Try implementing these simple tactics to maximize productivity in the workplace, and you’ll tackle your workload with time to spare.

1. Implement a weekly No Meeting Day

Block off an entire day on your calendar every week. Call it a No Meeting Day, and don’t forget to socialize this schedule to your teammates. Optimize this day to get heads down in one or two big projects. At Asana, we observe No Meeting Wednesdays. With the occasional exception, we all try to keep our commitment to having this day be meeting-free. As best you can, try to spread the word about this plan. Getting your entire company or team on board will help you all get more done.

Why give it a try

Whether you’re a manager or individual contributor, having an entire day free of meetings lets you pursue strategic projects that require a lot of heads down time,but that often get interrupted with meetings, emails, and ad hoc requests. With this new schedule, you’ll discover you’re less stressed on the other days of the week, and you’ll be finally be able to tap into that coveted flow time.

2. Identify optimal times for the right projects

Spend a week or a couple of days tracking your current schedule (or lack thereof), paying attention to when you have the most energy and when you are least productive. Then, plan your day based on your optimal focus times: start with smaller tasks and those that take up less energy and brainpower at times when you often find yourself less inspired; block off larger chunks of time for bigger tasks — when your creative juices are more likely to flow freely.

Why give it a try

Procrastination is often the result of a lack or structure or scheduling. Working on big projects at times when you’re most in need of a break, or not quite ready to think big can leave you spinning your wheels. By making yourself aware of times you’re in need of a break or ‘on’ to tackle high-level work, you can tap into your most productive self when you need it most.

3. Give the Pomodoro Technique a try

The Pomodoro Technique (which gets its name from a tomato kitchen timer) works by allowing you to break down big projects into smaller distributed tasks that you’re more likely to accomplish over the course of the day. These tasks should be punctuated by frequent breaks and each one should take 25 minutes or less to complete.

Why give it a try

The Pomodoro Technique is designed to help you recharge, so you’ll move faster through projects — with less fatigue.

4. Make time to plan your day

Half the productivity battle lies in good planning. So start or end your day with a 30 minute planning session. Use this time to respond to teammates and organize your projects so you have a clearer picture of what you’re working on and why.

Why give it a try

We’re often bogged down by constant distractions: messages, emails, or time spent trying to figure out what to do next. All of these waste a lot of time and drain your energy. By getting through housecleaning, you can redirect your energy to more mentally-challenging — and fulfilling — work.

More?

Project management software can also aid with productivity–it can help organize tasks, keep your team in communication, and make sure your projects are always on time and on budget.

How do you stay productive at work? Leave your thoughts and comments below!

Want more articles on productivity? Check out..