If you’re feeling stuck in your career and watching others get the promotions you want, it might be time to evaluate your work habits. Multitasking during Zoom meetings or letting distractions slow you down when on a deadline can negatively impact your work performance. When bad habits happen to good people on the job, the workplace suffers, stress levels rise and your job satisfaction and home life can take a hit.
Recognizing and addressing behaviors that do not serve you well before your boss does is the first step in making positive changes. Evaluate what requires change and why. By acknowledging the need for a reset, you can change detrimental habits and achieve your personal and professional goals.
Contrary to the popular belief that it takes 21 days to form a new habit, British psychologist Phillipa Lally’s landmark study reveals it takes between 18 and 254 days, with 66 days being the median. However, high motivation plays a significant role in habit formation.
Here are some strategies to help you break free from counterproductive tendencies that could be limiting your success.
COVID-19 ‘Blursday’
The pandemic was a major contributor to the development of bad work habits. When people started teleworking and conducting meetings remotely, a breakdown of structure and boundaries blurred the lines between professional and personal life. According to an article on forbes.com, breaking bad “pandemic-induced work habits” can result in increased productivity and efficiency. If undesirable work habits became ingrained during the pandemic, now is the time to break free and move forward.
Humans aren’t inherently equipped for multitasking. Engaging in activities like responding to emails or texts during a Zoom meeting can be counterproductive, as it prevents you from giving your full attention and best effort to the task at hand, ultimately impacting your performance.
If you are working remotely, be in your workspace during set work hours and keep your professional life and personal life separate. Dress for work. Avoid the temptation to throw in a load of laundry or take a shower in the middle of the day as colleagues should be able to reach you during work hours.
Teleworking should not lead to burnout from working all hours into the night or constantly checking emails and texts unless your job specifically requires it. Shut down your devices at the end of the workday. Take time for yourself to clear your mind and engage in activities that energize and relax you so you’ll be ready to face the next day.
The Late Show
Rush hour delays are no excuse for turning up late to the office. Chronically running late can lead to frustration among co‑workers and catch the attention of higher-ups to your disregard for start times.
To prevent this, plan your morning the night before. That might mean setting your alarm a half-hour earlier, choosing your work outfit the night before or preparing breakfast and lunch ahead of time. Avoid morning stops, like errands or coffee runs. When you arrive at your desk ahead of the appointed hour, calm and ready, you’ll be less harried and better prepared to focus on the day’s tasks. Try to work out a flextime schedule if that would better accommodate your needs and lower your stress levels.
Punctuality also applies to meetings and appointments during the workday. Everyone’s time is valuable. Set calendar alarms and be on schedule to greet clients or attend office meetings. Don’t get delayed by last-minute calls or emails. Your efforts will be appreciated and noted.
Time Management
Procrastinating on projects because you’re feeling overwhelmed can be a major stressor. Effective time management is key.
Start by eliminating distractions such as emails, phone calls and social media. Establish a timeline for yourself or implement a time-blocking schedule in which various tasks are slotted in specific time slots throughout the day, including scheduling breaks and personal time.
Another method for time management is the Pomodoro method, named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer. It calls for working on a task for 25 minutes and then taking a five-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. By breaking a project down into manageable segments, or the “Bird by Bird” method (inspired by Ann Lamott’s book by the same name that suggests taking a task one step at a time), you can make steady progress. After you’ve made headway with one portion, you tackle the second and so on until the project is completed on time.
Influential management guru Peter Drucker suggests his Management by Objectives approach for businesses, setting SMART goals — specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound — to reach objectives and improve efficiency. Apply this framework to attain desired results on the job and improve overall productivity.
If you are still struggling, ask for help. Engage co-workers or management with a collaborative mindset: How can we solve this problem together?
Failure To Communicate
Being a team player starts with being an effective communicator. Everyone should be on the same page with work objectives and goals. Be clear as to what is expected of you and what you may expect from your colleagues and have a collaborative mindset.
Be open to learning and growth. If you need to improve certain skills, consider taking a course at a local community college or get in-house training. If you need mentoring, ask for help. Be an active listener and speak up if you need clarity. Expectations about work emails and response times among the team should be made clear and adhered to.
Tensions in the office can arise from personality conflicts, workload imbalance, office gossip, negative attitude or office politics. Conduct yourself with integrity and focus on your progress but address interpersonal issues early on and be open to solutions.
Take It Outside
Americans prefer to eat lunch at their desks, according to a survey reported on financebuzz.com. Survey respondents said eating at their desks is convenient and made them more productive. It may seem like a way to get more work done, but eating at your desk may actually be counterproductive. Working indoors all day without a proper break may leave you tired, unfocused and heading to the vending machine for a sugary pick-me-up in the afternoon. For your well-being, leave your desk during lunch, head to a break room or go outside if possible. Chatting with colleagues over lunch also strengthens professional relationships and collaborative attitudes.
If your company offers a gym or wellness classes, take advantage of them.
Stay Organized
Clearing off your desk each night is like making your bed in the morning. It’s a small task that sets the tone for the day and provides a sense of accomplishment. Tidying up your desk signals the end of the day and time to close up shop. Toss out old coffee cups and clutter, organize papers and files and put everything in its proper place so that you have a neat, clean surface ready for you to begin fresh the next day.
Set a goal to change one habit at a time, and more positive changes may follow. A business video feature in The New York Times reported that when a CEO focused on changing one seemingly minor habit, it sparked a chain reaction of improvements companywide, benefiting the bottom line.
That model of change can carry over into personal habits as well. You’re worth the effort.