While there’s a time and a place to be lazy, a lot of people strive to become more productive to get more out of life. Whether you want to become more productive at work or in your personal life, increased productivity helps you stay motivated to keep on top of your game.

Luckily, being more productive in your life doesn’t require a lifestyle overhaul. The better news is that you don’t have to take drastic measures such as Charli Hoehn, assistant to best-selling author Tim Ferris. Charlie Hoehn claimed to stay awake for 60 hours straight with the help of a powerful nootropic—which is a brain drug typically used for fighter pillows and narcoleptics.

While you contemplate how a human being could possibly function with such lack of sleep, here are a few tips to get and stay productive:

1. Realize that Being Busy Isn’t Necessarily Productive

Running around like a chicken with your head cut off? You’re not crazy to think you get a rush from getting a lot done on a busy day. Unfortunately, being busy isn’t always the key to being productive.

Sociologist Christine Carter, Ph.D., of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, put it this way: “Busyness is not a marker of intelligence, importance, or success. Taken to an extreme, it is much more likely a marker of conformity or powerlessness or fear.” Instead of viewing busyness as a sign of significance, top performers interpret busyness as an indication of wasted energy.

Maintaining focus on what you’d like to accomplish in life or at work will help you remain productive.

2. Stay Present in the Moment

According to Psychology Today, when we’re not multitasking, our minds are wandering. Research shows that our minds are only fully present 50 percent of the time—if that. The rest of the time, our minds are engaged in thoughts of the past or future.

The same study showed that humans are the happiest when their minds are not wandering, but don’t mistake this for doing something work-related 100 percent of the time. Being mindful of what you are doing in the moment can keep you happier and more productive, even if you’re simply taking out the trash.

3. Stay Ahead Today to Make More Time for Tomorrow

Isn’t it a great feeling to feel like there are fewer things to do in the days ahead? While there’s no need to stress yourself out with too many tasks, staying ahead can help keep you more productive. Using your time today for activities that aren’t enjoyable—such as paying bills or crunching numbers for the latest quarter review at work—will help lighten your workload and make the rest of your week smooth sailing.

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We hope these three tips will help you stay more productive in your life. Continue to follow Best Life Hub’s September self-improvement series for more helpful tips.