Illustration by the Author

In a world of ever-growing business demands, productivity can be a challenge for many. Working smarter takes time and effort, but it can also significantly improve the quality of your work.

Here are seven strategies for boosting your productivity:

1. Prioritize tasks – spend time on the things that will first give you the most significant reward. For example, if you know that an upcoming project will take up most of your day, tackle it first, so you don't waste energy later in the day tackling smaller tasks.

2. Set goals – develop objectives that will help keep you focused while you complete tasks or projects. This helps to keep track of what needs to be done and how long it should take to complete them.

3. Take breaks – plan regular breaks throughout the day to recharge mentally and physically so that you can stay productive throughout the day.

4. Manage distractions – remove distractions by either setting a "do-not-disturb" period or turning off notifications on devices while working on specific projects/tasks. This can help minimize wasted time responding/answering emails, messages, or phone calls which could draw away valuable energy from activities that require more focus and attention.

5. Streamline processes – utilize technology to quicken workflow processes and better manage progress. This allows for more efficient use of time to get the job done without spending countless hours trying to do everything manually with minimal results!

6. Monitor your progress - keep track of how much work has been completed and where improvements need to be made for a task or project to succeed in its deliverables. This also allows for improved goal setting to increase output with every iteration!

7. Get organized – create systems within yourself that make referencing information more accessible, so there is no wasted time looking for files or notes needed during tasks & projects!