Project manager, administrative assistant or writer — no matter your role, you will be expected to multitask. You might have a pile of work to do when your boss comes along with a new project that needs to be finished tomorrow. Many people will panic, but if you have great time management skills, you should be able to tackle these projects with no problem.

Here are tips to help manage your time wisely:

Make a list and prioritize — and check off work when you finish it! Lists are a great way to see what tasks you need to finish in a day. If you are tired or need a mental break, work on an easier project. If you are in the zone, tackle that tough project that has been on your desk for weeks. Having a list will help you plan your day and stay on track with what needs to be done. And if something needs to be moved or priorities change, move a low-priority task to the following day to accommodate.

Create deadlines — even for daily tasks. For example, if you have a report due in the afternoon, arrange your day so you have the report finished before lunch. This ensures that it is completed on time and if any last-minute changes occur, there will be time for edits.

Leave time for flex — Some days you might need a break, have writers block or have an unexpected task land on your desk. Create your schedule knowing change is imminent, and be able to adapt when that happens. Try to arrange each day to have a variety of high- and low-priority tasks. If you have a project due at the end of the week and time on Monday or Tuesday to do it, take advantage of the free time. You never know what may happen later in your workweek. And no boss has ever been disappointed with work done early!

If you follow these tips, it will enable you to keep your day on track. Distractions and unexpected projects happen, so preparing in advance will only help you deal when changes do occur.

Not only does time management benefit you during your workday, it is a necessary skill to carry over to your home life, as well.

Maggie Theisen is a Sourcing Specialist at Celarity, Inc located in Bloomington. She can be reached at Maggie@celarity.com.