Staying productive is challenging for any business, but sole proprietors have things a little harder than most. When you have to set an example for your team, you have more motivation to push yourself. If it’s just you getting the job done, how can you maintain your drive? Follow these productivity tips and see the benefits.

Keep Your Body Moving

Mental activity is closely tied to physical activity. Getting your body is no joke when it comes to staying energized and active. Taking some time for movement — or better yet, staying in motion while your work — can help you stay productive from 9 to 5 instead of just being “in the office.”

Try to take a movement break every 30 minutes. At least once every hour, get up and walk around. Grab some coffee or water, turn on the radio and dance a bit. It’s just you, after all.

This trick is especially useful when that afternoon lull hits. Normally, about an hour after lunchtime, your body gets sleepy for a while during digestion. Instead of staring blankly at your laptop (and probably falling asleep), take care of some physical activity, whether it’s organizing shelves or calling a client.

Ignore Nonessential Emails

Your email account can be a vital tool for managing your business and connecting with clients. That said, it can also become a huge time-waster if you’re not careful. All it takes are a few clicks on social media or store offers and all of a sudden you’ve lost an entire hour or more browsing the web.

It takes some practice, training and self-control, but you need to learn how to prioritize your emails. When you open your account, glance at your inbox and take note of urgent messages. If you have time, read them and act on them immediately.

Some business owners create a special folder separate from their general inbox, marked “Important” or “Urgent.” As they browse their inboxes, they drag any urgent emails into this folder to keep everything in one place for easy reference. The rest of the messages can wait for later.

Set Productivity Goals

Goals are more important for sole proprietors than any other business professional. They’re key to staying motivated and measuring your performance.

Don’t kick your feet up until you’ve met your goals for the morning and then the afternoon work periods. You need to remember why you’re working hard in the first place, whether it’s providing for your family or developing a successful brand.