If you’ve been lagging behind in promotion or you feel you’re not doing exceptionally at work, perhaps it’s time to break your bad habits. Here are 11 practical ways to kick the poor attitude ASAP!
11 Smart Ways How To Break Bad Habits at Work Forever
Everybody has bad habits. For example, I tend to be a slob with decadent desserts (yup, sorry). But there’s a good reason why they’re called bad: you shouldn’t do them! These include bad habits at work. They can reduce your chances of succeeding in your career or even other aspects of your life, so before they ruin you, stop them with these 11 smart tips.
1. Sleep early
Remember the rhyme “Early to bed, early to rise makes one wealthy, healthy, and wise”? Guess what, it’s true! Great sleep improves your focus, alertness, and performance, not to mention it gives you great skin and helps you manage weight effectively. Hit the snooze button and gift yourself at least 8 hours of sleep daily.
2. Set goals for your career
To work without goals is to man a ship without a compass: you’ll be sailing aimlessly. Goals can inspire and motivate you not just to work harder but also better. Moreover, because you know what you want, you know which effort counts, so you don’t waste your time doing nonsense. To help you plan your career, check out You’re So Pretty’s goal setting guide.
3. Get the best support system
Would you like to be a girl boss? Then surround yourself with amazing people. When the going gets tough, their advice and help will be all you need to push forward.
4. Eat well
Healthy food reduces your chances of getting sick, so that’s fewer absences for you. Tip: Get healthy by packing your lunch or eating the meal a few blocks away from the office. This way, you can squeeze a nice exercise.
5. Exercise
Sweat the stress away! Besides, exercise can also increase focus and productivity. The good news is every effort counts. Walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator or stand up often. Don’t fancy a gym membership? Hiking during the weekends and backyard gardening burn a lot of calories.
6. Party at the right time
Who am I to deny you of great martinis and cocktails? In fact, I love hanging out with my girlfriends, but here’s the thing: I don’t do it during weekdays because hangovers are nasty. And even if you don’t drink, parties can ruin your sleeping habits.
7. Put down your personal phone
The less access you have with your personal phone, the less time you’ll have surfing the Internet or chatting with loved ones. If you’re worried about emergencies, give your family a direct line to your workplace but remind them to call you only when it’s extremely important.
8. Relax
Pack your bags and travel, spend lazy weekends, or basically do nothing! Relaxing gives you the pause you need to kill the burnout.
9. Learn to say no
Saying yes all the time is actually one of the bad habits in the workplace. It gets in the way with your job, doesn’t teach others accountability, and pushes you to stay out late because you still have to finish your work! While it’s great to help out, but do so only when you can.
10. Keep your desk clutter free.
Although some people function better when desks are cluttered, if it only demotivates you, it’s time to organize your workstation. Keep in mind a place for everything and everything in its place.
11. Think positive thoughts
Are your bad habits at work driven by anxiety, insecurity, and fear? Perhaps these positive thinking quotes can give you the right mindset.
Do you need more tips on how to break bad habits in the workplace? Listen to Charles Duhigg. I hope this video will give you the inspiration to do better at work:
I know how you feel: bad habits at work are INCREDIBLY hard to kick, so be patient with yourself. Take it one day at a time. Before you know it, you’ll feel more productive, healthier, and happier at work!
Do you have tips on how to break bad habits in the workplace? Share your tips with the community! Be better at work with these 10 ways to increase confidence.
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on September 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.