Here are 10 simple ways:
- Check emails only thrice a day
- Put everything on your calendar even personal meetings. Keep a separate to do list, prioritise urgent & important tasks. If you are firefighting all the time then there is something wrong.
- Have standing meetings - If others don't stand, you still can, it will push you to be brief. Decline meetings which are waste of your time. Say "Sorry I may not be able to add much value to this meeting"
- Pick your tea/coffee & have it on your desk
- Put your phone on silent,check it only 3 times a day.
- Sit in a meeting room if there is too much distraction on your desk
- Keep your lunch break for 10 mins followed by a 5 min brisk walk after that. Will give you energy for the day.
- Dont bring work home, ensure you finish it at office, dont work on weekends.
- Excuse yourself from all gossip. If people are wasting your time excuse yourself politely.
- Come to work early, finish all your pending work. I used to work from 8am to 4.30 pm, did it for 9 yrs. So it is possible.
Set expectations with your manager.