Productivity is the key to success, so you need to ensure you are setting yourself up to be productive every day you walk into the office.

I should know – when I’m in the office, I need to be as productive as possible. Why? I’m a salesperson with a very long commute (an hour-long bus ride each way, plus a walk!) into the Salesforce New York office, and need to be out of the office by a certain time each day to get home for quality time with my family. If I am not productive while in the office, that leads me to bring my work home, which takes away from the precious time I get with my family. So, I need to make the most of every minute.

I’m here to to share five ways I increase my productivity at work so I can get in, get out, and get all my work done well.

1. Be an early bird

You may hate to hear this, but try getting to the office 30 minutes earlier than usual. Use that half hour for you. Map out your day and get yourself settled before everyone else arrives and the office volume turns up. I like to keep a pad of paper on my desk – every morning I write down each event and meeting I have planned for that day. In between each event, I write out the goals I want to accomplish with that free time. Sound simple, but it allows me to create a checklist for myself and provides better structure to my day.

2.  Find the best environment for you

Do you like to be around other people while you work, to collaborate and feed off of their energy? Or do you like being locked into a quiet conference room alone so no one can bother you? Do what best works for you. Personally, I love being on the sales floor with my teammates. I enjoy feeling the energy from everyone else doing their jobs and helping customers be successful. However, if this is not what pushes you, then by all means, find a conference room and get to work.

3.  Focus on the task at hand

Your calendar is your best friend. Make sure to use it to your advantage! I block off periods of time to help me stay organized. These blocks of time could be for simple housekeeping, prospecting, account management, meetings, or anything else you need to prioritize. If you are not focused on a certain task or goal, then you will have no idea what you accomplished that day. Yes, multi-tasking is a major part of being in sales; however, if you can try to mono-task during certain parts of your day, you will get more things done … and done efficiently.      

4. Get the blood flowing.

Sitting at your desk for eight hours a day can get boring and is quite unhealthy. Every hour, try to stand up and move around. I usually mix it up. I like to use the standing desks that Salesforce so graciously affords to us. If you don't have one, try going for a short walk with a colleague around the office. This allows you to talk about current challenges or successes you are experiencing at work, and also get some exercise in. Plus, it’s amazing what you can learn about someone on a short walk to the coffee machine.

5. Make it a priority to unplug.

Make sure to maintain a healthy work and life balance. This is probably the most important point. You need to be happy coming to work. If you don't create a healthy balance, then work will become a weight on your shoulders. This will make you unmotivated and will certainly make your productivity level drop. So when you get home, put the laptop down, and put the cell phone down. Try unplugging from all of your devices before you sit down for dinner. Enjoy time for yourself or with your family. It will keep you fresh and eager to tackle tomorrow.

Hopefully after reading this, you can take a few of these points and insert them into your daily activities. Hey, they certainly help me, so I would suggest giving them a shot!

Ready to join the team at Salesforce? We’re hiring! Visit http://salesforce.com/careers.