Something new that I've started doing is a set of "weekly goals".

Every week I start a new set of notes. When I'm working, I write out quick notes on what I'm doing - so I can look back on it in the future - but more importantly, it helps me focus.

But, at the start of the week, I've taken to writing out three goals.

Now I do a quarterly plan - this is what I want to do in the next three months, and to achieve that, I need to get X done by month 1, Y done by month 2 and Z in month 3. These weekly goals are based on those, but sometimes they're also in addition to that.

It means that on Wednesday, after I've had some emergencies to deal with, I can refocus. Look at the top of that week's notes - what did I think was important for this week? Oh yes, better spend some time on that task then.

By Friday, I've generally missed at least one of these goals, because other stuff has got in the way. But as a way of reorientating myself and making sure I keep moving in the right direction, it's invaluable.