There are a number of things you can do to be more productive. Here are a few that are popular, but not all might work in your environment. Proceed while evaluating: Have a tasklist for work: If you track bugs or tasks (using sw or emails or requests); prioritize your tasks. Start with the most difficult things first... Then do the things you would normally avoid... Then everything else. If something won't get done today, star it, don't reprioritize it. Check back on it periodically. Try to find people who can keep you accountable - a mentor or pm who wants to see things done just as much as you do. Bounce ideas off this person, or report to them (even if it is in an indirect fasion). Things to research come up over the course of a workday... Make a list of those and hit stackoverflow or mdn or similar sites in the morning and read up about concerns you may have. Buy books if you can't find info. Be pro-active. Have fun :)