Here are a few tips we gathered to help you stay engaged and on track — even when you find it a challenge to focus on work.

Tip #1: Stay organized.

Here’s why: A productive day starts with a plan. That doesn’t mean preparing for your day once you begin to work — but instead thinking through what you’ll need to do before you even open your email. Set aside time toward the end of each afternoon to consider what your priorities are for the day ahead, then make a schedule so that you’re ready to go the next morning.

Tip #2: Prioritize your to-do list.

Here’s why: Making a to-do list is key to being productive, but prioritizing the items on that list is just as important. Otherwise, you could end up working on less critical projects first, and find yourself scrambling to finish up more important tasks at the end of the day. Determine which items are most urgent and plan your day around them.

Tip #3: Automate repetitive tasks.

Here’s why: Tedious work can take up a valuable part of your day. But it doesn’t have to. Next time you’re performing this kind of repetitive task, consider whether or not it’s something you could automate to free up some of your time. Setting up the automation may take more time upfront, but that investment will soon pay for itself in hours saved.

Tip #4: Delegate and outsource.

Here’s why: Delegating is tough for some of us — but it’s so worth it. Because you can only physically accomplish so much in a day, consider what tasks you’re comfortable outsourcing. (To be even more efficient, make those decisions when prioritizing your to-do list for the next day.) You may be nervous to make the leap, but once you do, you’ll have more time to focus on the tasks that really require your attention.