Have you ever wondered if the internet has added to your productivity or reduced it?

Do email, IM and phone calls take precious hours from your working day? Are online distractions driving you to distraction? Sharon Sarmiento over at 901am may have the answer.

Sharon lists five ways to improve your productivity online. The headlines are hers, the comments beneath are mine :

1. Restrict your work hours to increase efficiency
The idea is to challenge your brain to avoid being sidetracked by irrelevant incoming chaff. I must say this always works for me, although if overdone — cutting it too fine — it can be counter-productive in that I’ll put it off until more time is available. Common sense is always important in these matters.

2. Create a map for your day
Write down what you need to do in the time available. Indispensable at all times if you don’t want to drift through your day.

3. Schedule times to check email
Another must. Email can run away with your time, especially if it’s still coming in while you’re culling the existing stuff. Time-limit the exercise.

4. Relax and don’t try to force yourself to work harder
If you’re stressed, you won’t breeze through your work. Chill out or you’ll feel the chill factor later.

5. Cut yourself some slack
Take a while to breathe without mental flak. But don’t do it if you are working well and efficiently. When you hit a rhythm keep it going, otherwise you will find it hard to switch it on when you get back from your break.

Good tips, worth keeping in mind for working online.