Here are 15 Bad Habits Which Always Destroy Your Productivity. Read below
1. You
take too much time to complete a simple task.
Taking
six hours to write a simple, one-page e-mail really isn’t the best use of your
time. Putting in more hours into your work doesn’t always mean you’ll get
better results. Sometimes you just have to stop what you’re doing and move onto
something else, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Chances are, your work
is probably good enough, anyway.
2. You’re too hard on yourself when you don’t finish your work.
There
will be times when you just can’t complete your work in a timely fashion. It
could be because of a work, family or other kind of emergency. If this is the
case, don’t harp on the situation. Sometimes that’s just how things go. So,
what can you do? Get yourself refocused. Pick up where you last left off and
continue on with your work. Complaining won’t get things done.
3. You spend your entire day planning.
Do you
stare at your schedule, thinking about how best to use every last minute of
your day? Do you spend hours upon hours adjusting project spreadsheets and
Gantt charts? While planning is an important part of work, it’s not the only
part. You also have to take action and actually do those things you’ve so
carefully planned! Lay the plans aside and get to work.
4. You sit at your desk for hours on end.
Quick,
when was the last time you left your desk for a break? Sorry, restroom breaks
and getting a stack of printouts from the photocopier don’t count! You need to
take regular, non-work breaks. Give your eyes a break from staring at the
computer screen or slaving over your workstation. Get up, do some light
stretches and go outside for a quick walk. The change of scenery and fresh air
will help to refresh your mind and body.
5. You regularly skip meals.
You
need food – and water – to survive. Period. If you’re not eating meals on a
regular basis, you’re probably not being as productive as you could be. Don’t
skip meals in lieu of working and be sure to take your full meal breaks. While
you’re at it, get away from your desk or workspace and eat somewhere else, like
a cafeteria, outdoors or in a public park for a break from the office.
6. You force yourself to use a productivity app you don’t like.
Is
there an app on your phone, tablet or computer that you absolutely despise? If
you dislike using it so much, why do you use it at all? Who cares if the app
has been listed #1 in your phone’s app store for the past two years or
rated highly by productivity experts? It doesn’t mean that you
absolutely have to use it. There are literally hundreds of apps out there
for you download and try out. Find something you like and you’ll be more apt to
use it.
7. You sit around waiting for the perfect moment to begin
something.
When’s
the perfect moment to start planning your dream vacation, clean out your closet
or look for that new job? You could spend years upon years waiting for that
so-called “perfect moment.” The truth is, the perfect moment is right now. Stop
waiting, and start working towards your goals, big and small, professional and
personal. You’ll be glad you did!
8. You check your email every two minutes.
E-mail
is a tool that should be used to help you do your work, not distract you from
your work. Turn off e-mail alerts and updates, or log out of e-mail programs
entirely. Limit checking your e-mail to only a few times each day, so you so
you can focus on getting things done.
9. You work on the first thing that comes across your desk.
Do you
start working on the first item you receive in your e-mail inbox? How about
tackling that non-urgent memo sitting on your desk? Make a point to begin your
day or work sessions by identifying your own specific goals and tasks. You’ll
get a lot more done than if you just reacted and started working on the first
task that came across your path.
10. You multitask.
Working
on a report, surfing the ‘net, talking on the phone with your client and
texting your boss…task overload! Stop trying to do so many different things at
once. You’ll get your work done faster if you do things one at a time,
carefully. If you’re afraid you’ll forget what you need to do, jot down a mini
to-do list on a sticky note to get the tasks out of your head. Then, it’s time
to get work.
11. You walk into meetings unprepared.
Do you
waltz into meetings without knowing what they are about? Sure, it takes time to
review meeting materials and become acquainted with the goals of any meeting.
But if you don’t, you’ll just be wasting your time and other people’s time when
you’re sitting in the conference room. It’s worth taking a few moments to get
yourself prepared so you can have a fruitful meeting.
12. You don’t review your calendar.
From
meetings and appointments to events and interviews, your calendar can tell you
exactly where you should be and what you should be doing at any given point in
time. However, if you don’t review your calendar, you won’t know what to
prepare, where to travel, or what to do. Just taking a couple of minutes to
review your schedule at the beginning of every day can be a great help to your
productivity.
13. You blame your tools.
Ever
hear of the saying, “a poor workman blames his tools”? Instead of practicing
his craft, the workman blames his tools for his poor work habits and/or
incompetence. When things aren’t going as well as they should be, stop for a
moment and ask yourself whether you are doing everything in your power to be a better
worker through practice, rehearsal and the like…or you are simply blaming your
tools.
14. You wait until the very last minute to start something.
Stop
deferring work until a later date and start working on a project the very same
day you receive it. You’ll have started work on your project in the simplest,
and easiest way possible. You don’t have to make a big deal out of it, just
write down a couple of ideas or do a bit of quick research.
15. You refuse to learn new skills.
You can
benefit greatly from learning a few new skills or techniques that relate to
your everyday work. These skills don’t have to be complicated, they can just be
simple, everyday things, such as learning how to touch type, use the
photocopier, or resize photographs on your computer.
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