Sitting at your desk and staring at the mountain of work you have to do, it’s hard to relax. Your desk is cluttered with papers, and you’re inundated with emails. Doesn’t this sound like a normal workday? We’ll see how to turn this chaos into an workflow efficiency.

How can we simplify our work without going crazy? You asked a good question! Let’s start by talking about “chunking.” It’s not the candy bar. Chunking is the process of breaking large chunks of work into smaller pieces. Imagine a real cookie. If you were Cookie Monster, you wouldn’t eat it all at once. You’d nibble on the pieces. Use the same logic when you are completing your tasks.

Let’s talk about automation. It may sound futuristic or a bit intimidating, but please listen to me. Automating repetitive, mundane tasks can save you a lot of time and money. Imagine a virtual assistant that never complains when you ask for coffee. Zapier and IFTTT are tools that can seamlessly connect your apps to streamline your workflow.

How about setting SMART objectives? I’m not talking about being street-smart. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable Achievable Relevant and Time-bound. You can think of it as a road map for your project. You wouldn’t go on a road trip across the country without a GPS.

Multitasking or parallel processing is often hailed as the super-hero of productivity. It’s actually more of a trickster. You’ll get through your list of tasks faster than you can say, “efficiency,” if you focus on one task at a given time.

Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique before? You work in 25 minute bursts, with 5 minutes breaks between. It sounds easy, but this is a game changer. It’s easier to manage than a marathon and it keeps your energy up.

It is important to set boundaries. You’re working in your zone when a colleague comes by to chat. Set clear boundaries at work, even if that means posting a “Do not disturb” sign to convince your colleagues you are on a mission.

Don’t forget to optimize your environment. Your workspace shouldn’t be a tornado. It should reflect calmness. It can make a big difference to have a clean desk with good lighting and if you are comfortable in your chair. Remember how plants can brighten a room? Add one or two to your space for a touch Zen.

Your best friends are communication tools. Too many cooks can ruin the broth. Keep to a handful of tried-and tested platforms. The same goes for cloud storage. Ensure that everyone in your team is on one page, both literally and figuratively.

Flexibility is a virtue. Wearing a rigid schedule can be likened to wearing armor. It is protective, but also incredibly restrictive. Make time for spontaneous brainstorming and creative breaks.

You have the answer. These strategies, from chunking to automation to Pomodoro to workspace tweaks can transform your chaotic workday into one of calm. Working smarter is more important than working harder. Go forth and become that productivity ninja who you’ve always wanted to be!