We all want to make our work days as productive as possible. For many people, that simply means putting in more hours. But there comes a point when working longer produces diminishing returns. In fact, there is research showing that the longer we work, the less productive we become.

But there things you can do to get more done without working longer, just working smarter. Here are a few.

1. Prioritize
To get more done, you need to set priorities, and then hold to them. When you get to work at the beginning of the day, write out a list of the things you need to get done, in order of importance. Before you head off to lunch, check your list to see how things are going. Then check your list again at the end of the day to review how things went, what went well, and what you can improve upon.

2. Take breaks that energize
It is important to take breaks throughout the day. But you can get even more out of your breaks if you do the right things. For instance, walking during your break can help you get reenergized. It gets your blood pumping, making you feel better and getting more oxygen to your brain. Drinking water helps as well because it keeps you hydrated.

3. Focus
Concentrate on doing one thing at a time and only one thing until you get it done. That means you need to avoid multitasking as much as possible. Research has shown that multitasking actually hurts more than helps because we can really only focus on one thing at a time.

If you have something big and complicated to do, break it down into smaller parts so you can focus on each part before moving onto the next.

4. Don’t overanalyze
Many times we get in our own way by thinking too much. We think about what could go wrong, what the consequences will be, what problems we might have. Much of this is wasted energy. Often, we just need to get started, dive in and just do it.

5. Stay healthy
If you want to be productive, you need to keep your mind and body in the best shape possible. That means getting a good night’s sleep, exercising regularly and eating right.

If you want to be productive in your job search, Winston Resources can help you get the job you want. Winston is a leading staffing firm in the New York City area, with the resources to help you. Give Winston a call today.