The average work day is filled with small battles, some of which we win and some of which we don’t. One battle that we fight every minute of every day is one against distraction. If you have been losing this battle more than winning it lately, here is a list you can double check to ensure that your productivity is as healthy as possible.

Set short term and long term goals - Often times, your work day can feel like a rudderless ship that has been set adrift. You know what you have to do, but you have no framework to operate in. By setting reachable and realistic short term goals every day that lead up to a long term goal, you suddenly have focus where you didn’t before.

Turn off distractions - Our workdays are filled with distractions, from the Internet to chatty coworkers and beyond. Have the self control to turn off the distractions you can control and physically separate yourself from others.

Turn work into a game - Working hand in hand with your short and long term goals, you can break down your work day even farther so that when you reach a self imposed goal, you can feel a sense of accomplishment. You’ll be shocked at how this kind of thing can motivate you more than any self help book.

Reward yourself - If you’ve had a really good morning or a stellar afternoon, make sure you reward yourself with something. Have your favorite food for lunch or download a hot new mp3 from the Internet. At the end of the day, treat yourself to a drink at the bar or some other reward.

Stay on an even keel - Even with the best focus, some days are going to be more productive than others. You must stay on as even a keel as possible if you want to maintain a healthy level of productivity over the long term. Don’t get too high when you do well and don’t get too down on yourself if things get tough.

Monitor your caffeine intake - Coffee can be an absolute godsend when it comes to getting you through those afternoon blahs, but too much caffeine can lead to a crash that takes your productivity along with it. You should know how much is too much by this point in your life, so don’t go overboard thinking your actions won’t have repercussions.

Eat - No one can be expected to be productive over the long term without a somewhat healthy diet. If you are living on fast food, stop and try to bring something from home, or at least order in something other than greasy fries and burgers. You also don’t want to go the whole day without eating, you won’t feel well and you won’t get much done.

Organization - Organization can be one of the trickiest things for many cubicle dwellers to manage since space is often at a premium. If you can’t come up with a sound organizational pattern, talk to those in your office that are neater than you for help.

Upgrade - Sometimes, the biggest drag on productivity is the hardware you are using. Try to put in a request for a faster, newer computer or a new phone system if the old one is dragging you down. It is your job’s responsibility to provide you with the tools you need to prosper.

Don’t be a technology slave - It has become a bit of a Pavlovian response to pick up a phone the moment it rings or to check our email the moment we hear that chime, but you don’t have to be a slave to technology. If you are concentrating on something else, it is okay to come back to a ringing phone once a message has been left.

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The key to any successful business these days is making contacts. Millions of words have already been written in thousands of best selling books about how to make new and permanent contacts, but here is a quick reference list you can consult when it seems that you’ve run out of options.

Video teleconference - As more and more businesses reduce travel budgets to save money, video teleconferencing is stepping in to fill the void. These teleconferences are a great way to meet new contacts and improve existing ones. Make sure you look the part, stay professional and always have something compelling to say.

Lunch meetings - While long distance travel is becoming a thing of the past, short distance lunch meetings are growing in popularity. Make sure you use proper manners, understand the time frame in which you have to operate in and always present yourself in a professional way, even with a mouthful of pastrami.

National/regional conference - Sometimes, you have no alternative but to travel. These trade shows and conferences are an absolute gold mine for networking and creating business contacts. Gather as many business cards as you can and try to divvy up your time so that the right people have the most face time. These things are endurance tests and only the strong survive.

Online/social networking sites - The world is relying more and more on the Internet each and every year and, soon, a majority of today’s business will be done on social networking sites and other online portals. You can either get web savvy now or disappear like the dinosaurs sooner rather than later.

Community events - If you live in a big city, every weekend is packed with community events. These events are chock full of business opportunities for someone who knows what to look for. Take one weekend a month to scout out the events in your area and spend some time getting to know your local business leaders.

Email - While cold calling is still the most common way to meet people out of the blue, cold email sending is also popular. Make sure that your grammar is letter perfect and that your automatic signature is spelled correctly and is appropriate. Avoid form letters since they do nothing to ingratiate yourself to a new client.

Cold calling - Rumors have it that the second phone call Alexander Graham Bell made after he invented the telephone was a cold call to a local investor for seed money. The cold call is a tried and true way of making business contacts, but you may need to work on your delivery. A stale and stagnant delivery can be heard a thousand miles away and you’ll lose prospective clients before you’ve finished your first sentence. Try a fresh approach and watch your numbers sore.

Family events - We often don’t associate family events with business opportunities, but if you are there to network, chances are, someone else will be, as well. Family members marry all the time and these connections can be turned into business contacts with little effort.

Sporting events - The same basic premise goes for sporting events. We may not head to the ball game with the intention of networking, but there are likely going to be tens of thousands of other people in the same situation, so if the option presents itself, go for it. Just remember to switch back into professional mode instead of “swearing at the ref and getting drunk” mode.

Through friends - Often times, the easiest solution is the one we save for last. Our personal friends usually aren’t connected to work, but they may know someone who would fit together with you like a Lego brick. Ask around and you may be surprised at how much business you can do.

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