Are you seeing the #NewYearNewMe hashtag all over your social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter? It’s 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 year’s resolutions, it’s 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 you’ve set for this new year – from being a better person to landing a better job – 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. Don’t 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 you’re not only wasting your own time, but also disturbing others who don’t even want to get involved in the first place.
2. Too much complaining
it’s 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 doesn’t always go your way and acceptance of a situation helps you to keep a positive outlook to life’s 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. Don’t just accept and complain about it later on.
3. Being too hard on yourself
Sometimes, people don’t notice how hard they are on themselves. While it’s 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 it’s okay to make mistakes. Don’t 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? It’s 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 won’t 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. It’s 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, it’s 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, you’ll 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 you’re 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 you’re exposing your colleagues to your contagious germs.
If you’re 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 you’re sick isn’t 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 it’s 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 won’t 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
It’s 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 it’s a good time to start packing your own lunch and making coffee at the pantry! You’ll be surprised by how much you get to save.
10. Stop learning new things
If you’ve been in a job for a while, you tend to get a little complacent. It’s dangerous for your career to think that you know what you’re doing and you’ve 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
