When you’re dealing with a mountain of workload, an 8-hour work shift can easily turn into 12.

Staying late isn’t an ideal situation anyone wants to be in. However, there are times when you don’t have a choice.

A client who wants you to start the project from scratch. A colleague whose absence means you have to cover their shift. A presentation that’s due tomorrow. A pending board meeting. All of these things can be stressful.

More than that, you’re envious of colleagues who somehow manage their work on time while you end up staying late almost every day.

Maybe they’re managing fewer projects than you are. Maybe they’re taking work home with them. Or maybe they’re better at managing time. It’s all about how you maximize productivity.

Here’s what you should do:

Communicate Openly

Don’t be the employee who says yes to everything. Don’t promise to deliver when you know you can’t.

If you think you can’t do something, relay that to your manager. If you’re worried about how saying no will leave a bad impression on your manager, think about what will happen when you fail to deliver.

Say no to promises you can’t keep. Play your strengths and focus on things you can achieve!

Start Prioritizing

The emails full of memes and funny cat videos are NOT your priority. They can, however, distract you from completing your work.

When you come into work, analyze what you need to get done today.

Prioritize your tasks. What’s important and urgent? Get started on that.

What’s important but not urgent? That can wait.

If you’re confused, ask your manager to highlight projects that need to be prioritized. This way you know where to start and what to do.

Make sure you’re productive first thing in the morning. Don’t delay; you’ll end up rushing everything in the second half. That can impact the quality of work.

Stop Multitasking

Sure, multitasking is a useful skill, but that’s not always the case. If you’re bad at multitasking, that’s the last thing you should do.

When your mind is all over the place, you won’t be able to concentrate. Some projects need your complete, undivided attention. Instead, start early or make notes before coming into work.

Take shorter coffee breaks if the project you’re working on is time-consuming. Remember that you can’t compromise on quality.

These are just a few hacks that can change the way you manage time.

Running low on the dosage called “inspiration”?

Hall of Fame member Steve Rizzo is an inspirational motivational keynote speaker who is known for his wit, humor and business insight.

Steve’s committed his life to helping people realize their potential and achieving their dreams by boosting morale and motivation. Check out his books Motivate THIS! and Get Your SHIFT Together to get yourself started. You can also contact his team by calling (855) 841-9255 or (724) 540-5092 for more information on where he’s speaking next.