It's not uncommon to burn out from working too much. Even your regular day-to-day routine at the firm can weigh you down eventually. When this happens, sometimes it's impossible to get things done. We've outlined five essential productivity hacks to help you hop back on task and accomplish everything you need to.

Wake up early!

Getting the most out of your day is essential to feeling accomplished and happy. Wake up early so you can squeeze in more activities! Getting an early start allows you to have time to hit the gym before work, spend a little extra time with family, or just have more time to relax and get ready for the day. Whichever route you choose, waking up early will make you feel better and motivate you to get more done during your work day.

Schedule one day free from meetings.

It's easy to get bogged down with work, so leave some time open to really get things done. Make sure you have one day per week without any meetings, so you'll have one day free from other commitments. This way, you'll really be able to knock out multiple tasks without any interruptions.

Start your day with a to-do list.

Never underestimate the power of a simple to-do list. At the start of your day grab a piece of paper or a sticky note and jot down three tasks you'd like to complete that day, starting with the most important! Once you tackle that first task, the rest are smooth sailing. To-do lists help you hold yourself accountable and give you that great feeling of accomplishment when you see those boxes checked off! The NextChapter Team holds each other accountable with an i-done-this Slack channel to share the top three tasks we completed each day.

Automate your workflow.

Bring automation into your daily work routine to complete bankruptcy cases more efficiently. Using NextChapter, you can automate everything from client intake through post-confirmation. NextChapter offers a bundle of features that will streamline your workflow, like an automatic time tracker, calendar integration, online debtor questionnaire, automated client text recipes, and so much more. Take automation one step further by hiring a NextChapter Virtual Paralegal to tackle petition preparation and more on your behalf!

Give yourself a break.

Nothing increases productivity like a well-deserved break. Working non-stop results in exhaustion and often lessens the quality of your work. Take a vacation, go to the spa, or even just read a book on your lunch break. Unplugging for even an hour will re-energize you to feel refreshed and ready to take on your work with renewed vigor.