It can happen to the best of us: developing some bad habits in the workplace that we don’t even realize are bad. From habits will inch you closer to burnout to the ones that show you’re just too comfortable, acquiring bad habits at work is something you should try to avoid. Still, they’re so normal and so many of us do them, that you might not realize you’ve slipped into one. Here are some of the most common.
1. You stay late
This is doing no one a service, not least your own body, let alone your employer. Longer working hours do not mean greater productivity, but they do mean lower job satisfaction and reduced wellbeing. If you’re working late every day or even every week, you should raise this with your superior. Your workload should fit within your 35 to 40-hour work week. Every additional hour has a marked negative effect on your health and will interfere in your private life.
2. You check your e-mail outside of work
Working overtime doesn’t have to be done from inside your office. If you’re checking your emails at home or on the go, you’re more likely to have feelings of anxiety. Your e-mails will be there when you get back to your office. Let your coworkers know that their e-mails will not be answered if you are out of the office, and encourage them to do the same. Sometimes you have to be the one to take the first step in changing a company’s culture. Uninstalling e-mail apps from your phone is another great way to help you resist checking your e-mails while away from the office.
3. You write e-mails without thinking
Writing e-mails that are professional doesn’t just mean making sure they aren’t informal. Sometimes we get so used to doing something that we stop thinking when we do it. E-mails are an essential form of communication, and they’re sometimes the only way you end up interacting with someone. It’s important to remind ourselves to keep our e-mails authentic, personal, and professional. If you need a bit of a refresher on writing e-mails that will not just get your point across, but will encourage future collaboration, read these helpful tips on how to write the perfect business e-mail.
4. You eat lunch at your desk
Those that don’t take breaks at work end up being less creative. If you’re working 8-9 hour days, your brain and your body need at least one break. Take the time to nourish your body with a healthy meal, and take a walk around the block to stretch your legs or read a few pages of a book. When you return to your desk, you’ll be much more productive, and more ready to take on whatever the rest of the day has in store for you!
5. You share too much with your coworkers
If you’ve been at a company for a few years, chances are you know quite a few people in the office. While it’s normal to share some personal information with them, steer clear of talking too much about weekend activities that will make your coworkers lose respect for you. A good rule of thumb is: Don’t talk about anything you did over the weekend that you wouldn’t do at work.