In a difficult job market, it always pays to be highly productive in your work. What are those habits that make for a good worker who gets the job done?

1) Refuse to multi-task. Research confirms that multitasking doesn’t pay off. We lose information when we switch from task to task. Even though women are better at this than men, multi-tasking doesn’t get the job done smarter. You actually drop you IQ an average of 10 points when you multi-task.

2) Check your email occasionally. The temptation is to check every time you hear an update but resist. Check at regular intervals during your day, not continuously. The thinking here is that the constant checking interrupts your flow and creativity.

3) Take a quick break. Your brain functions by using glucose. Glucose is spent after about 60-90 minutes which is why we often need breaks in our day to move around, get a snack and refocus. So get up, walk to the coffee, grab a water, and shake off the concentration.

4) Be a person who talks to people. Email is convenient but talking to a real person goes a long way, especially when the conversation is ongoing.

5) Avoid distractions.  This is one I had to really work on to be more productive. Close your door, put up a no disturb sign, don’t respond to your computer interruptions. Stay quiet and focused.

These may seem like small things when it comes to work productivity, but they can really make a difference.