Are you seeing the #NewYearNewMe hashtag all over your social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter? Itโs officially a new year and many of us see it as a fresh start. Have you reflected on the achievements of 2018 and set some new goals for 2019 yet? There is no better time to do it than the beginning of the year.
Well, if you are one of those who consistently failed to achieve your new yearโs resolutions, itโs time to learn the importance of setting realistic goals. Try breaking big goals into small actionable steps and practice good habits to stay on track. So, no matter what goals youโve set for this new year โ from being a better person to landing a better job โ ditching some bad work habits can definitely do you good.
Check out these 10 bad work habits that you should totally get rid of:
1. Immersing yourself in the gossip zone
Stop wasting your time in gossiping with others at work. Donโt be the irritating person who creates unnecessary tension and drama among colleagues. Instead, focus on your work and keep yourself busy with productive tasks. Remember that youโre not only wasting your own time, but also disturbing others who donโt even want to get involved in the first place.
2. Too much complaining
itโs okay to share your frustration at work with others, but too much of it can make you an annoying colleague. If something is beyond your control, try to be more adaptable instead of complaining non-stop about it. Life doesnโt always go your way and acceptance of a situation helps you to keep a positive outlook to lifeโs changes.
Focus your efforts on things you can change. For example, learn to say no if you find the deadline unacceptable and suggest an alternative. Donโt just accept and complain about it later on.
3. Being too hard on yourself
Sometimes, people donโt notice how hard they are on themselves. While itโs good to set the bar high for yourself, but stressing yourself out might keep you further away from reaching your goals.
Have realistic expectations and know that itโs okay to make mistakes. Donโt keep dwelling on your mistakes and feel discouraged. Take each mistake as a learning opportunity instead.
4. Skipping your break too often
Are you one of those who always skip lunch break and typing away at your desk during lunch hour? Itโs time to change! According to research, taking lunch break is more important than you thought. Give yourself a break from work and take this opportunity to know your colleagues better. Try to have a balanced meal so that you wonโt get the after-lunch sluggishness.
5. Neglecting the importance of interaction
Personal time is essential especially for introverts. However, keeping to yourself all the time at work may not be healthy. Itโs important to be a team player and collaborate with others to improve efficiency at work. Try to initiate conversations with your colleagues and know them on a personal level if possible. By having a good relationship with them, itโs definitely more delightful to work together. You might get some new ideas and knowledge from them too!
6. Procrastinating
Stop telling yourself that there is always tomorrow. Instead, ask yourself why leave it till tomorrow when you can get it done now? Nothing good comes from procrastination, youโll end up feeling stressed for having so much backlog to clear. If you have a lot on your plate, try to break the toughest task to smaller bits and move your way up.
7. Working when youโre sick
You might think that dragging your sick self to the office and force yourself to work is showing good work ethic, but the truth is that youโre exposing your colleagues to your contagious germs.
If youโre really sick, you should probably stay at home and rest instead of spreading your sickness to other people in the office. Furthermore, trying to work when youโre sick isnโt a good idea. Allow yourself to rest and recover before heading back to work.
8. Taking too many breaks
Taking too many breaks during working hours is definitely a bad habit that you should ditch. While itโs okay to take a 5-min break from your desk to go to the bathroom, or get a cup of coffee from the pantry, but disappearing from your desk for 30-min or longer a few times a day is concerning. Your boss wonโt be happy especially when he or she needs you for something urgently. Try to space out your break time throughout the day to keep yourself fresh and energetic.
9. Spending too much on overpriced food and lattes
Itโs tempting to get salads from the fancy restaurant across the street. Or getting a cup of overpriced latte from the cafe downstairs. But do you really need that so often? Perhaps itโs a good time to start packing your own lunch and making coffee at the pantry! Youโll be surprised by how much you get to save.
10. Stop learning new things
If youโve been in a job for a while, you tend to get a little complacent. Itโs dangerous for your career to think that you know what youโre doing and youโve learned everything you possibly can. Always seek out ways to challenge yourself, for example, go for a workshop, take an online course, or even just read up on the latest news in your industry.
Are you looking for a new job in the Philippines or abroad this new year? Try Bossjob, the only platform which rewards your job search!
Photo by Manan Chhabra on Unsplash
