By setting appropriate production goals for your chosen profession, you will eventually learn to trust yourself to get the work done, thereby freeing up your evenings and weekends for socializing and spirited reality TV debates. Naturally, this will make you a happier, saner human. Considering global peace is tenuously balanced on the sanity of humanity, don’t screw this one up.

Be your own time clock.
Get up at the same time everyday, get showered, shaved, and shiny—whatever your routine would be normally, stick to it. You’ll be far more productive if you’re at your desk coifed and caffeinated by the same time every single working day. And yes, you can take coffee breaks and lunch breaks, though you can probably forego stapling that unappealing Dept. of Labor poster on minimum wage rights to your kitchen wall.

And make sure you pay attention to the clock. Just because there is no Boss Man/Woman standing there to flash that “break’s over” glare, that doesn’t mean it’s time to catch up on daytime soaps. Tivo Oprah and watch it over tonight’s Sarah Lee tiramisu.

©istockphoto.com/Bonnie Jacobs