When you have a tough decision to make, allow 36 hours to pass before choosing which way to go. It’s amazing how much clearer your perspective can be after such a short time. Thirty-six hours seems to be the magic amount of time for being able to assess a situation without having your feelings overwhelm you.

Frequently throughout the day, especially while you’re supposedly “working,” ask yourself the following questions.

• Is my current activity one that is productive or counterproductive?
• Am I really taking action, moving forward, and getting the job done, or am I just killing time or goofing off?

Most people are surprised by how much time they waste when they keep track. After you have identified your productivity weaknesses, decide what you can do to avoid them from now on.

Call, email, or send a thank you letter to someone who can make a difference in your career. Challenge yourself. Make it someone important. From this point on, try to do this once a week.