1. Tame the tabs

Mass of internet tabs getting the better of you? Flicking through that multitude of tabs will only serve to interrupt your productive flow, so we suggest using internet remedies for all they’re worth.  Try Tab Manager Plus to organise your messy tabs into groups on a handy dashboard, and easily see the tabs that are relevant to each project, when you need them.

 2. Track your time

It’s key to understand your current habits in order to adopt new ones. Time-tracking apps, like Toggl and Harvest, can show you where and how you spend your time online. Monitor your activities in the background for a week and then face that procrastination head-on.

Equipped with this new awareness, you can start working with time, instead of against it. We recommend applying the Pomodoro Technique – one of the simplest productivity methods that you only need your device’s in-built clock to implement.

Split your work time into 20-minute intervals, with each followed by a 5-minute break for coffee, a short walk or something else relaxing and not work-related. You feel more refreshed at the end of the day – and typically complete more in those short bursts than when trying to push through larger time blocks.

3. Do Not Disturb

Prioritising tasks is essential, especially with today’s increased overlap between personal life and work life. Don’t forget that you’re not chained to your desk – it IS possible to escape the madness of calendar alerts, chat messages, and seemingly never-ending software updates! Make use of the ‘Do Not Disturb’ setting, utilise Safari’s in-built read-it-later tool, or download Instapaper on your iPhone, to simply click and save for later.

4. Step away from the screen

Don’t spend countless hours staring at your monitor. Set a timer to remind you when to take a break. Screen time should be interspersed with exercise, sunshine and, where possible, some social time.

5. Get help from a smart assistant

Smart assistants, like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, are reaching the point where they can help with just about anything, and they aren’t just restricted to your smartphone or speaker system – they work equally well on your computer. We recommend you offload your mental to-do list onto one of these handy automated sidekicks. Let it do the typing for you and schedule those reminders to help you stay on top of your workload.