What are some of your most trusted productivity tips? Setting your own hours and schedule sounds really great, but then we all run into the procrastination and distraction monsters I'd love to hear -- well, read-- some of your tips on staying productive.

A timer. I set a timer to get a task done. Once 15 minutes goes by I have to stop what I'm doing. It helps to get the mundane things and keep me from putting them off. I even have to use it for this site now!! Didn't I read somewhere about a desktop timer? I need to go back and look so I can install one on all of my computers.

oh i need that! becasue this site tends to be a bit of a distraction monster (sorry nataly, or yay? lol either way!)

hmmm best tip? a deadline... if i *know* i have have to get soemthing done in X ammount of time or ELSE (something, fill in the blank) i can get MUCH more accomplished than just trying to 'ecourage' or rewarding myself. unless the reward is something really big that i really dont have control over to give it to myself anyway LOL!

My tip is to make your work space as comfortable as possible. Make sure you have a comfortable place to sit, with something to drink and a snack if you need it. Also, it's good if your workspace is uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing...makes me want to spend more time there.

Oh, mamajama, if only I could keep my workplace uncluttered. That would certainly help me but organizing is the thing I procrastinate most. I think that if I had everything organized I would be more productive. I wonder if it's true?!!?

I'm not good at being productive at home usually. My best tip is if you have a laptop, head to the coffeeshop or somewhere where you can get WiFi.

Stay for 2 hrs or so and you'll be surprised at what you can get done.

I work better if I have a to-do list handy. But I get less discouraged if I add a few items that are quick, easy, or -- if it's a particularly hard day -- already done. Being able to cross a few things off quickly makes me feel more motivated to tackle the bigger things on the list.

I also give myself a deadline, even if there already is one associated with the project. My own deadline is usually a day or two earlier than whatever the real one is. I find I'm less stressed about adhering to my own deadline than I am to someone else's, but, also, just knowing that I have a cushion of time on the other side makes it less stressful.

Hmmm... I guess I'm all about tricking myself into getting stuff done!

Ha! Lylah, I like to trick myself into getting things done too...I never really thought of it that way though. sometimes I fluctuate between doing that and reminding myself how good I will feel at the end

I use the to-do list like Lylah. I also bribe myself. If I get "x" done by noon then I get something, a treat, a walk, something that I look forward to. I like to do these tasks early in the morning so I don't have it weighing down on me all afternoon. So my biggest tasks of the day I always do first.