“If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done,” said a wisecracking piece of stationery I once came across in a store. But if you were to learn proper time management tips, you wouldn’t need that procrastinator’s motivator of a last minute in the first place. Here are some useful time management tips to help keep you and your time in tip-top shape:

1. Delegate. Recent studies show that multitasking, rather than being an asset, is actually quite detrimental to productivity, as opposed to focusing on one job at a time. You cannot do everything by yourself. You are not superhuman after all. Know your limits and don’t be afraid to say “no” to more work or get others to share the load.

2. Don’t procrastinate. All this does is pile up your work, making it even more daunting. And the more daunting it is, the less you’ll be inclined to work on it, and the more you’ll put it off. It’s a vicious cycle, indeed. So another time management tip is to break the task apart into several tiny, more manageable pieces. Work on these pieces one at a time and before you know it, you have conquered the project in its entirety.

3. Personalize. Work on your workspace so that it is conducive to productivity. Get rid of distractions, but do what works best for you. Some people prefer a desk that is the epitome of organization. But if your clutter is your very life source, the fuel from which you derive all of your creative energy, then keep the mess—as long as it’s organized mess, meaning you know exactly where everything is so that you don’t waste precious time scrounging around for this paper or anything else you might need.

4. Reward yourself for a job well done. Hard-earned rewards can be added motivation, goals toward which you can strive. They make work that much more satisfying and fulfilling.

Time is such an invaluable resource. So simply follow these time management tips and actually get things done — right on time and without ever having to rely on the last minute.