Sometimes, the busiest people confuse being busy with being productive. High activity gives us the perception of productivity, but daily hustle isn’t always directly related. Being productive requires a set of skills that don’t develop simply by being (or feeling) busy.

A good way to illustrate this is how we handle problems. Less productive people tend to do something quickly rather than doing nothing, even when doing nothing is the ideal solution. Analyzing the situation and deciding not to act takes more effort than jumping into action without reflection, even though inaction can be perceived by others as a lack of effort or intention.

Below, we list eight “tricks” that highly productive people use to win the battle against daily hustle, which you can hopefully put into practice to become (at least) a little more productive.

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Take Time to Think Before Acting

Sometimes, planning is seen as a waste of time. But having the perfect plan requires time and reflection. Achieving this is extremely important because it allows tasks to be executed in a more organized way, leading to better results. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

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Stop Talking About How Busy You Are

Workaholics often constantly say they are very busy because it helps them manage their own stress. By doing this, they try to transfer some of that pressure onto others who, from their perspective, should also be very busy. Highly productive people focus on their tasks while they are working on them—not outside of work. They don’t need others to validate their activity levels.

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Prioritize Time Wisely

Being productive necessarily means prioritizing and deciding what you can commit to, and then saying “no” to everything else. This helps productive people manage their energy and avoid wasting it on things that aren’t worth it.

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Do Fewer Things, But Better

Trying to tackle too many things is usually a disaster. Instead, productive people focus on fewer tasks, doing some of them excellently and the rest adequately. Since it’s impossible to do everything well, productivity lies in knowing your strengths and concentrating on them.

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Use the Right Tools to Free Up Time

Technology, used correctly, helps us be more productive. Using the right apps and tools helps productive people increase efficiency at work.

Beyond that, daily tasks can be handled more quickly and effectively with gadgets, apps, and other tools that enhance personal productivity.

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Finish Work on Time

Following a schedule and completing tasks on time is key. Setting time slots for finishing tasks helps avoid procrastination and ensures work is completed promptly. Workaholics often stay late at their desks or resume tasks at the end of the day, never truly disconnecting—making them less productive during working hours.

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Know How to Use Free Time

As productivity increases, free time becomes more valued. Having hobbies and planning activities with family and friends on weekends or holidays motivates work productivity. People with many tasks and low productivity tend to think about work constantly, making it harder to fully enjoy both leisure and business time.

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Don’t Talk About Work During Free Time

As a way to disconnect from work, it’s rare to hear highly productive people discussing tasks during their free time. Generally, they focus on their work while working and on leisure while not working. Keeping the mind free of tasks during non-work hours helps lead a fuller life both on and off the job