Section one. Take stock: Make time for work that matters : evaluate and then drop, delegate, or redesign / by Julian Birkinshaw and Jordan Cohen -- Are you too stressed to be productive? Or not stressed enough?: a research-based assessment / by Francesca Gino -- What's your personal productivity style? : how do you do your best work? / by Carson Tate -- Section two. Plan your day: You may hate planning, but you should do it anyway: the pain will be worth it / by Elizabeth Grace Saunders -- Making the most of "slow time": get important work done, even when it's not urgent / by Lynda Cardwell -- Align your time management with your goals: a simple tool can help / [no byline] -- A tool to help you reach your goals in 4 steps: break them down and make a plan / by Heidi Grant Halvorson -- Sprints are the secret to getting more done: they're not just for software development / by John Zeratsky -- Accomplish more by committing to less: what to consider before taking on a new project / by Elizabeth Grace Saunders -- How to say no to taking on more work but maintain relationships / by Rebecca Knight -- The most productive people know whom to ignore: not everything merits your time and attention / by Ed Batista -- Fending off a colleague who keeps wasting your time: traffic control for drive-by visitors / by Dorie Clark -- Give yourself permission to work fewer hours without feeling guilty about it / by Elizabeth Grace Saunders -- You'll feel less rushed if you give time away: research proves the paradox / by Cassie Mogilner -- Section three. Find your focus: 5 ways to minimize office distractions: build your attention muscle / by Joseph Grenny -- Train your brain to focus: you can learn to ignore distractions / by Paul Hammerness, MD and Margaret Moore -- The two things killing your ability to focus: devices and meetings / by William Treseder -- Faced with distraction, we need willpower: strengthen your self-control / by John Coleman -- How to practice mindfulness throughout your work day from when you wake up to your commute home / by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter -- Coffee breaks don't boost productivity after all: take a meaningful microbreak / by Charlotte Fritz -- Six ways to supercharge your productivity: small behavior changes yield big results / by Tony Schwartz -- Gazing at nature makes you more productive: an interview with Kate Lee 40 seconds is all it takes / by Nicole Torres -- 5 ways to work from home more effectively: log on and take charge of your day / by Carolyn O'Hara -- Things to buy, download, or do when working remotely: be productive no matter where you are / by Alexandra Samuel -- Section four. Motivate yourself: Finding meaning at work, even when your job is dull: you don't need to be curing cancer to feel good about your job / by Morten Hansen and Dacher Keltner -- How to make yourself work when you just don't want to: get that project off the backburner - for good / by Heidi Grant Halvorson -- How to beat procrastination: outsmart your brain's tendency to put off big goals / by Caroline Webb -- Steps to take when you're starting to feel burned out: feeling overwhelmed is a signal, not a life sentence / by Monique Valcour -- Pronouns matter when psyching yourself up: talk to yourself more effectively / by Ozlem Ayduk and Ethan Kross -- How to stay motivated when everyone else is on vacation: take advantage of an empty office / by Dorie Clark -- Section five. Get more done on the road: How to use your travel time productively: waiting in lines doesn't have to be a waste of time / by Dorie Clark -- How to get work done on the road: the hotel notepad: unsung productivity hero / by Joseph Grenny -- Section six. Take time off: Going on vacation doesn't have to stress you out at work: ease your exit-and reentry / by Elizabeth Grace Saunders -- Don't obsess over getting everything done before a vacation: a saner way to prepare for time off / by Scott Edinger -- Ease the pain of returning to work after time off: get back into the groove / by Alexandra Samuel.

Every day begins with the same challenge: too many tasks on your to-do list and not enough time to accomplish them. Perhaps you tell yourself to just buckle down and get it all done--skip lunch, work a longer day. Maybe you throw your hands up, recognize you can't do it all, and just begin fighting the biggest fire or greasing the squeakiest wheel. And yet you know how good it feels on those days when you're working at peak productivity, taking care of difficult and meaty projects while also knocking off the smaller tasks that have been hanging over your head forever. Those are the times when your day didn't run you--you ran your day. To have more of those days more often, you need to discover what works for you given your strengths, your preferences, and the things you must accomplish. Whether you're an assistant or the CEO, whether you've been in the workforce for 40 years or are just starting out, this guide will help you be more productive. You'll discover different ways to: Motivate yourself to work when you really don't want to Take on less, but get more done Preserve time for your most important work Improve your focus Make the most of small pockets of time between meetings Set boundaries with colleagues--without alienating them Take time off without tearing your hair out--