10 Really Bad Work Habits That Could Be Keeping You From Success

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You feel as if you are doing everything you possibly can to get ahead. You do everything that is asked of you, you work through lunch, or even better, you skip lunch completely, and you can be found hunched over your desk all day, every day. So why is success eluding you?

1. Too much caffeine

There is no questioning that starting the day with a freshly brewed cup of coffee is a good thing. However,as with anything, too much of a good thing can quickly become a bad thing. If you are the one in the office who always has a cup of coffee in their hand, you may want to rethink your beverage choices. Anything more than four small cups of coffee (or two large insulated cups) is too much. Coffee is a diuretic so if you have too much first thing in the morning, you run the risk of needing a bathroom break while you’re in the mandatory sales meeting.

Try this instead: Treat yourself to some no-calorie flavored water in a yummy fruit flavor. Sparkling water works too, and you just might start a new trend.

2. Your desk is a mess

Stop wasting your time trying to find what you need. If everything is a mess on your desk, you are doubling the time it will take you to get anything done. You will actually save time by putting everything back into place before starting your next task.

Try this instead: Take a trip to the office supply store or even the local dollar store, and get all the organizers you need to keep your desk nice and neat. This simple act will pay for itself every time you know you can get your hands on what you need at a moment’s notice.

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3. Sitting hovered over your desk all day

Just because you are dedicated to your job, it is not healthy to stay in the same spot in the same position every day. It has been proven that office workers should stand up and work from that position for 15 minutes every hour. You run the risk of getting a serious blood clot by sitting for too long (this is even dangerous on long flights on airplanes).

Try this instead: Strap on a headset and make your phone calls while walking around your office. If you don’t have a private office, walk over to the break room, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or go visit a co-worker to discuss an important project.

4. Eating lunch at your desk or not eating lunch at all

If you are at a point in your career where you feel that you must eat at your desk or skip lunch altogether, you won’t have to worry about getting a promotion any time soon. You will be much more productive if you step away from your desk for even 30 minutes. You may find that your mind is much calmer and clearer because of the change of scenery. You are entitled to time to replenish your body, so take it.

Try this instead: Pack yourself a healthy lunch and make it a point to eat in the employee break room every day. Once a week (Friday is a good day) make plans to go to lunch with a fellow employee.

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5. You say yes to everything

No single person is great at everything. Don’t say yes to a project just because it will look good on your resume. It will look worse if it isn’t something you are good at and you do an underwhelming job. That is just as memorable as a great job.

Try this instead: Know your strengths, and work on a project that you know you can be proud of. You will enjoy it more, and your natural enthusiasm will lead you to excellent results.

6. You have trouble reaching your goals

Setting goals is one thing; however, for many people, achieving them is another thing altogether. Take your goal and give it a time frame for completion. Next, break it down into tangible steps and assign each of those steps a deadline. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Try this instead: Line up a reward for achieving a specific goal. Make it a goal that will motivate you to stick with your plan. It will always serve as a reminder of your accomplishment.

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7. Consuming too much junk food

When you are a working professional, keeping your body fit and healthy should be one of your priorities. Drinking sugary sodas and eating salty crackers and pretzels is going to make you tired from carbohydrate overload.

Try this instead: If you work in an environment that has snack options via a vending machine, pack you own treats. In the morning, pack up a couple of bottled waters, nuts, cheese, yogurt, and fruit so you have healthy options right at your fingertips when you need a pick-me-up.

8. Bad posture

If you find yourself sitting in an uncomfortable chair for eight hours a day, you are going to end up with chronic back problems. Try to sit upright and focus on developing good posture. Take a few moments every hour to perform a few stretches so you don’t succumb to slouching.

Try this instead: Invest in a portable mesh lumbar support cushion you can place on your chair.

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9. Too much social media

It’s one thing to keep in touch with friends and relatives that you can only communicate with through Facebook but there is a point where too much social media could create unexpected problems for you.

Try this instead: Don’t put anything on social media you wouldn’t want your boss or coworkers know about you.

10. You are still sweating the small stuff

The saying “if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life” still rings true. Do the best that you can, always look for the best resolution that you can, but don’t let it take over your life.

Try this instead: Time goes by too fast. Find a way to look forward to going to work every day. Do the best you can, be open to other people’s ideas and suggestions, and don’t join in on office criticism and gossip!

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.livablecities.org

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