Because most bad habits usually develop over time and in the long term, they can cause you problems, here are a few very helpful tips on how to get rid of bad work habits. You may discover that you have low productivity, that you deliver projects after their deadlines or that you usually arrive late to your meetings. Just think about what impression you are giving to your co-workers and try to trade your good habits for your bad ones, to work more efficiently and improve your work performance. Even though long running habits may take some time to change, you should still make consistent steps to achieve this goal. Here are 7 helpful tips on how to get rid of bad work habits that you should consider:
One of the most important things you should do if you want to learn how to get rid of bad work habits is to first decide that you want to change. If you don’t really want to change that bad habit, then you will probably not going to find the power and the will to do it. You need to be motivated to achieve this goal and you also need to understand that bad work habits can prevent you from getting promotions and in the long term, they can even cost you your job.
The next thing is to make a list that should contain all those bad work habits that negatively impact your work. You could include missing deadlines, surfing the web when you should be working, being late to work or to meetings, using inappropriate humor at work, dressing unprofessionally, and being noisy or disruptive in the office, as examples.
That list of bad work habits could take you some time, so try to spend at least one week making it. You may not be able to list all your bad work habits at once, so try to journal things that you think are slowing you down and reassess that list at the end of the week. Don’t forget about those common productivity-draining habits like eating lunch at your desk or checking your e-mail all the time.
Prioritize your bad habits, establishing which habits you would like to break first. Just think of their importance and the way they are affecting your work performance and your career and try to get rid of one bad habit each month. Make sure that you list those habits that affect your managers and your co-workers as top priority, and get rid of them first.
Psychologists say that if you want to break a bad habit, you need to be specific when you decide what steps you need to take to achieve this goal, because it will increase your chances of success. For example, if you can’t meet deadlines, you should view them as non-negotiable parts of your job. Create a negative risk if you miss a deadline and create a positive incentive if you make all deadlines in a week.
Don’t let anything distract you from reaching your goal, so try to remove all temptations to continue the habit. For example, if you check your e-mail too often, simply close that program. If you usually arrive late at work, then set your clocks ahead or you could even ask one of your colleagues to do it for you, so you won’t know how early you are.
If you want to get rid of a bad habit that you developed while at work, then you should track your progress. Just keep track of your actions and look for progress over a period of days. Be patient with your progress, since bad habits are easier to start than good ones.
To break a bad work habit you need to have a lot of will power, patience and desire to change. Do you you know any other helpful tips on how to get rid of bad work habits? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section!