Creative Ways to Break Bad Work Habits

Getting Distracted

Find yourself looking at your phone when you’re supposed to work? This is just one of the many ways you can get distracted at work. You’ll procrastinate and waste time.

How to break this habit: Out of sight, out of mind. So remove all things that might distract you. If your desk is in a distracting space, ask if you can move it to an area where you’ll be able to focus more.

Refusing to Accept Feedback

Having confidence in your abilities is great. But there is always room for improvement. But if you cannot accept feedback on your work, you won’t be able to learn and grow in your field.

How to break this habit: Know that the feedback you receive is not there to break you, but help. Ask your manager how you can implement the feedback and improve your work. 

Negative Attitude

When you are negative, you’ll have a tough time completing your work and staying motivated. You’ll end up complaining about tasks and bring down morale in the workplace.

How to break this habit: Having a positive attitude is not easy. So if you have issues, this is a great time to speak up. Talk about how you are feeling and consider if it might be job burnout.

Not Taking breaks

We know that you want to do your best. But working nonstop for hours is bad for your mental and emotional health. You’ll be less productive as you feel more tired and stressed out.

How to break this habit: You are entitled to your lunch breaks, rest days and paid leave. So take them. Don’t feel guilty for putting your health first. It will benefit you in the long run.

Inability to Work in a Team

Teamwork makes the dream work. But if it feels more like a nightmare, you’ll avoid working with your colleagues. This can create a break in communication and impact the quality of the work.

How to break this habit: Take part in team-building sessions. This will help you get to know your coworkers. Also, build the confidence you need to become a great teamplayer.

No Organisation

Being organised plays a big role in the workplace. But if you lack organisation skills, you won’t be prepared and can end up wasting time to complete your work.

How to break this habit: Store all your files in a strategic order and keep your desk neat. Plan your work ahead of time and you’ll be able to manage your time with ease.

Lack of Respect

Respect goes a long way, whether you are an intern or have a senior position. When you are rude, employees will not feel valued. This creates a negative energy where no one will want to work.

How to break this habit: Treat your colleagues with respect and show empathy. Pay attention to how you address them and treat your team.  

How to Create Healthy Habits

Starting a bad habit is easy. But getting rid of it might be difficult. Before you give up without trying, know that it is possible. And instead of focusing on what you have done wrong, work on how to create good habits instead. Take a look at how you can below:

Start small – Have more than one bad habit? Then focus on one at a time. You could learn how to stick to a daily planner first before moving on to procrastination.

Practice makes perfect – Adding good habits takes time. But with practice, it will feel like second nature to you.

Make it part of your routine – Instead of taking time out of your day to create good habits, make it part of your routine. This way it will not feel out of place.