Whether you’re new to being self-employed or have been or some time now, you may still struggle with having too much to do during the day and not enough time to do it. The thing about working for yourself is that the amount of work you get done in a day is up to you. But quickly distractions sneak in, procrastination takes over, and you find yourself working until midnight 5 hours before the deadline. How can you eliminate this dreaded scenario? By implementing better time management habits and increasing the productivity during the time you’ve set aside for working.

Recognize your goals. Make a list of the short-term and long-term goals you need to meet today. Every other activity needs to revolve around these goals. It’s good to make sure that they are attainable. Otherwise you’ll just feel stressed and discouraged that you didn’t reach them.

Start with the most important and urgent tasks on your list. That way at the end of the day, if nothing else, you’ve finished your most crucial tasks giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Know your limitations. You want to be trustworthy and reliable but you only have so much time in a week. Don’t promise a client work in an unrealistic amount of time. It won’t matter if you get the job if you can’t deliver it within the deadline you set.

Remove distractions. Get organized at the end of the day so in the morning you can get straight to work. Also, it’s good to schedule short breaks to reset your mind and body and answer emails or texts. When you eliminate distractions like clutter and side tasks, it will be easier to stay focused.

By setting priorities and time limits throughout the day, you will feel more productive and an overall better sense of accomplishment in your work.