People think they are productive. People also think they in shape until they decide to run for any sizable distance.

I try to be as productive as possible. While I don't always succeed, I've found a couple of things that have really helped me. 

Email is a frenemy. Email is public enemy number 1.

We all depend on it, but we don't know how to manage it. Here are couple ways to manage it.

Don't check your email constantly during the day. A lot of us have separation anxiety with our email. The single most unproductive thing you can do is have your email open and check it all the time. It takes our pea-brains time to switch from one task from another. Going from writing a proposal, to checking email, then back to the proposal is doing no one any favors. Book out a couple different time slots where you can check your email. I try and check my email only a couple of times a day. Reply right away if it takes your 2 minutes or less. Make a to-do list of ones that will take longer and more research. Use this to-do list when you aren't checking your email.

What if someone needs something? If it's important enough, they'll call. You wouldn't email the fire department to tell them your house is on fire, would you? You'd call. Clients are no different.

I've found that people would rather have your full attention for 5 minutes than your divided attention for 10. Splitting up your time by switching back and forth make sure you don't pay attention to anyone.

Another big mistake: email notifications. Turn them off. Now. Turn them off on your computer, turn them off on your phone, just turn it off. It's the most distracting thing ever to see a notification while you're working on something else. Even that split second takes aways from your attention on whatever you're working on.

Use everything virtual filing technique possible. Taking time to print items out, go to the printer and the manually file the paper would take countless hours over a year. Technology is your friend. By the way, the "e" in "email" stands for electronic. 

Sprints also work very well for staying productive. My newest find is a site called Focus Booster. It sets a 25 minute timer for you and then follows up with a 5 minute timer. You focus on the work at hand for 25 mins, then take a mental break for 5 minutes. During the 25 minutes, no email, Twitter, Facebook or IMing. OK? This forces you to get stuff done in a short period of time, without distraction. I'm using it to write this post.

Working out makes you be more productive. Believe it or not, healthier people are more productive (sounds pretty obvious, doesn't it?). Working out increases your blood flow (to important places like your brain) and allows you to be more efficient. I don't have time to work out one hour a day. I use the methods in the Four Hour Body to work out, not Four hours a week - but Four hours a month. All it takes is 15 minutes, three times a week and I'm in the best shape of my life.

Tools and other tricks:

Otherinbox - I've mentioned this before, but this blocks out 95% of the non-human emails I receive. I love to get great deals on travel, but it's not as important as an email from a client. I only check this about once a day.

Wunderlist - I've tried different to-do services before, but Wunderlist is free and syncs across the web, desktop application, iPhone and iPad.

Google Reader, Sort By Magic - This awesome feature is one that hardly anyone knows about. If you're behind in your RSS feeds simply select Sort By -> Magic. It will show you the most recent, most popular feeds. Read the first couple and mark the rest as read. 

Evernote - I love using Evernote to file everything. Notes from meetings, travel ideas, recipes - it makes my life easier.