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Have you ever wished there were just a few more hours in a day? With only 24 short hours, making the most of your time is critical.

Being more productive at work doesn’t sound like a difficult task, but it does require being more conscious about how you manage your time. This post will walk you through 7 simple and effective strategies for increasing your productivity in the workplace.

1. Track your time

You may think you have the ability to gauge how much time your spending on tasks but some research suggests only around 17 percent of people are able to accurately estimate the passage of time. Using a tool like Liquid Planner or another task tracking tool can allow you to know exactly how much time you spend on daily tasks.

2. Plan your day the night before

If you spend just a few minutes before you go to bed prioritizing your to-do list, this will give you head start when you arrive at the office the next morning. Instead of spending the morning looking for your task, you’ll be ready to dive in. It’s also helpful to pick the most important tasks that need to be done before you move onto anything else.

3. Regular breaks are your friend

Although it sounds unproductive, taking scheduled breaks can help improve concentration. Research has shown that taking breaks can increase concentration. Plus it’s always nice to step away for a minute and recharge your batteries before diving back in.

4. Set personal deadlines

While we usually already have deadlines for projects we are working on, sometimes we have open-ended tasks. Instead of putting it on the back burner, create your own deadline and stick to it. This will keep it front of mind and give the task a sense of urgency.

5. Utilize the "two-minute rule"

This simple concept is a great way to increase your productivity. In the midst of our larger projects and tasks we often have less time consuming tasks to take care of as well. If you have a task that you know will take two minutes or less, do it right away. Taking care of the little tasks first will give you more time to focus on the bigger projects.

6. Just say no to multitasking

While we might think we are accomplishing more while multitasking, the opposite may be true. Psychologists have found that attempting to do several tasks at once can decrease productivity. Instead, commit to a single task until it is finished, then move on to the next.

7. Turn off notifications

Everyone is tempted by email, text messages or social media. To help resist temptation during work, turn your notifications off. You can always set aside a specific time to check all of the above, but eliminate doing it constantly throughout the day.

Stay productive everyone!