Staying on task and being your best productive self 100% of the time can be a struggle.

 If it feels like you’re drowning in endless tasks and appointments, consider some of these productivity tips, outlined by Entrepreneur.  Your stress-level will thank you.

Take a breath.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and breathe deeply and slowly. If you need to, breathe in for three seconds, hold for another three, and finally exhale for an additional three. Repeat as needed to slow down time a bit.

Be decisive.
The longer you put off making a decision, the longer it’s going to sit there unresolved. If you’re informed enough to move forward and make a choice, don’t wait. Just go for it.

Schedule specific “maintenance days.”
Whether it’s loading the dishwasher or finally taking that coat to the dry cleaners, choose a specific day to get “maintenance” items taken care of, so when you’re working, you’re not stressing about when those outside items will get done. You’ll know!

Review your schedule and eliminate what doesn’t serve you.
If it’s not helping you reach your goals, what’s it doing on your calendar? Assess your current workload and figure out how to gracefully step back from what no longer fits. This also means learning to say “no.”

Try the “Pomodoro Technique.”
This entails using a timer to take a five-minute break after about 25 minutes of hard, focused work. This will offer your brain the little breaks it needs to work longer and smarter.

Get plenty of sleep.
Though this one can be tough to accomplish every night, getting enough sleep is vital for fueling your brain to work at its full potential the next day. Pair it with staying hydrated and you’ve got a winning combination for productivity AND your overall health.

View some more ideas for productivity at Entrepreneur.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Staff Writer for Serendipity Media.