The wrong work habits can be easy to fall into and hard to climb out of – especially this year, when so much in both your personal and professional life may have been turned upside down. As 2021 dawns, you may still feel like much is out of your control – but it’s a good time to draw in the reins on bad habits and replace them with good ones. This year, more than ever, job-related New Year’s resolutions are needed, stat!
Do any of these sound alarmingly familiar? If so, start now to turn them around.
Not Establishing Boundaries
If you’re working from home, this may be more challenging than ever. But you still need structure and boundaries in your workday.
• Take lunch and other breaks and set a quitting time, even if you work remotely. Be intentional about it, even if your 9-to-5 schedule went out the window a long time ago. Breaks can be beneficial when you fall into an unproductive spell or rut – rather than chaining yourself to your desk because the human mind doesn’t work that way.
Failure to Plan
This applies to more than just your daily schedule. Make to-do lists for both short and long-term tasks. This way, when you stop working (planned or unplanned, such as when your child needs help with their Zoom math class), you have a guide to come back to. It will help answer the question of “Now, where was I?”
• Put high-priority items at the top of your list, especially if you tend to postpone them because they’re boring or unpleasant. It’s true: tomorrow is another day. But crossing those undesirable items off your list is an amazing mood lifter, not to mention a real boost to your productivity.
Working When You’re Sick
This habit has always been bad, but it has never, ever, ever been more critical. You may tend to shrug off feeling less than 100 percent when you work from home. And higher powers willing, it may not be coronavirus. But it’s not open to debate: This is, undeniably, Priority Number One.
• It’s not a good work ethic to push through it. You’re not doing yourself or anyone else a favor. And it goes without saying that if you’re sick, you must be home. Period. Even when the pandemic cloud lifts, don’t slip back into this habit.
Dreading Your Job
You spend way too much time working not to enjoy it or find it rewarding. If the first feeling you have in the morning before starting your job is dread or negative stress, and it’s persistent, it may be time to find something new. Without acting rashly, make a vow to yourself to at least consider all your options.
Is it time for a job change in 2021? This, too, may seem daunting right now, but some opportunities are just right for you. A temporary assignment is often a great way to try something new and maybe the first step down a long and successful career path. To learn more about your options in fields including customer service, IT, accounting, finance, legal support, healthcare, and production, contact PrideStaff Modesto today.
