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Summer in the office can take on a crazy pace. Even if you’re lucky enough to have Summer Fridays that doesn’t mean you get to bail on your workload. If you want to maximize your days in the sun, you’ll have to learn to be a time management ninja. Working more efficiently can save you time and frustration even during a typical week. Here are some simple tips and strategies to work faster, boost productivity and still do a bang-up job.

Put down the phone.

As it turns out, constantly checking your smartphone isn't so smart after all. According to Fortune, “a survey from staffing firm OfficeTeam found the average office employee spends 56 minutes per day using their cell phone at work for non-work activity. That’s 43% more than the 39 minutes most managers said they thought occurred.” Wow! That adds up to more than half a day a week you could be grinding.

Prioritize your most important tasks.

If you want to work faster, make a list, make a list, make a list! Figure out which tasks are absolutely hot and make them a priority. Assigning importance to the jobs on your list is just as important as making one in the first place. And yes, there is something oddly satisfying about crossing those nagging jobs off your to-do list one by one. But, going digital works too. You can get organized across all your devices with Todoist. This app allows you to list, track and prioritize your projects and chores. Best of all, it partners well with all your other worker bee apps like Dropbox, Google Maps, and Slack.

Timing is everything.

Become a morning person and make hay when the sun is shining. By scheduling your most significant projects and toughest tasks for the earlier part of the day, you'll set yourself up for a smoother more productive afternoon. Be generous and realistic when blocking out time for projects on your calendar and you'll be in a better position to finish. Setting limits on checking your emails will also help you recoup time and work faster.

Avoid those annoying coworkers.

Open floor plans are great for idea sharing and collaborating with coworkers, but not so great for staying focused. If you’re easily distracted by a gum-popping, loud talking and general office tomfoolery just getting through the day can be frustrating. Work faster and block out the distractions by investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones like QuietComfort II from Bose. They're wireless and now have Google Assistant built in. You can listen to music, receive texts and get answers without ever picking up your phone. Sure, they're a little pricey. But hey, it takes money to make money.