If you set a goal of completing 30 tasks in a day and you only finish 10 of them, you probably won't feel very productive.

• Your goals should be achievable and make sense within the parameters of your life.

What do you want to accomplish?

Perhaps you need an extra hour to get things done. Try waking up at 7:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. and see how that works. Plan to use that first hour of each day to finish any incomplete tasks or get minor chores done quickly.

What time will you wake up?

Write down a list of things you can conceivably accomplish in a day. Once you have a concrete list in front of you, it's a lot easier to get started and stick to a plan. This also helps you easily transition between tasks since you won't have to ponder what's next.

• Keep your list and schedule in a spiral notebook. Check off or put a line through each job as you complete it. When you look back at all you've accomplished, you'll feel great!
• Working from a list is not only motivating, but it also gives you a feeling of success.

What will you include in your list?

Only 1 hour. No more. We've all have sticky notes reminding us to do those tasks we find most tedious or those small jobs that seem insignificant. Set aside an hour each day to focus on completing those lingering, annoying tasks. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can get them done.

What time are you free each day?

Sometimes things we put on our "To Do" lists no longer need to get done. Recognize the completion of tasks no matter who does them.

• Maybe somebody else helped out and completed the chore before you had a chance to get it done. That's okay.
• If a task is no longer relevant, it's acceptable to let it go.
• Deciding a project is unnecessary gives you a sense of achievement because you are still moving forward.

What can be crossed off your list?

If you're at the office, let your phone calls go to voice mail for an hour while you get your work done. If you're at home, avoid answering phones or responding to texts during that hour. If you want to keep your momentum going, always stick to your list.

What typically distracts you?

After you're done working for the day, set aside time to return any calls you missed. If you keep putting that off, your list of people to call back will continue to accumulate. When you return calls daily, it'll keep your momentum going.

• Although you may not be able to reach every person, always leave a message that you returned their call. At least they'll know that you've made an effort to get back to them.

Who do you need to call?

Look at your list. Congratulate yourself on a job well done! Celebrate the fact that you were effective and productive. Whether you crossed off one large task or seven small ones, you made progress.

What little reward will you give yourself?