Working on changing your bad work habits is always a good idea. You can indeed use good habits to achieve personal and professional success.
However, since respecting your job, your workplace, and your coworkers is crucial for satisfying professional growth, you have to eliminate the poor behaviors before you can nurture healthy ones.
It’s time to buckle down and make some good adjustments if you’ve slipped into any of the following bad work habits.
In this article, we define bad workplace habits and present a list of negative habits you may have at work, along with specific suggestions for how to fix them.
What are bad work habits?
Bad working habits can be defined as negative behaviors that have developed a pattern that is referred to as bad working and personal habits.
While it is okay to exhibit some bad behaviors at work on occasion, they also reflect on you as an employee and an individual.
Because of the spread of the pandemic, most of the staff have switched to remote working for the foreseeable future. More firms are shifting to remote teams, and we’re all adjusting to this new “normal.” Bad habits are easy to form in these exceptional times, but that doesn’t imply we can’t change them.
If you had good work habits in school, chances are high that you’ll have the same at work. Workers can achieve success in both their professional and personal lives by developing strong habits such as time management, note-keeping, and paying attention to details.
This is due to the fact that being organized allows people to focus on what has to be done. Bad habits have a direct impact on the quality of your work and demonstrate to an employer your respect for it.
The type of work also has a significant influence on the development of bad work habits. In fact, based on the Statista Research Department, 70% of U.S. adults are likely to engage in various types of unhealthy habits during work.
21 examples of bad working habits
In a world filled with productivity tools that make life easier, there is a strong emphasis on workplace productivity. Habits have a strong impact on productivity.
Once you’ve discovered your poor habits, you can try to correct them before they have long-term consequences for your professional relationships and work performance.
Here are 21 examples of negative working habits to avoid:
- Procrastinating
- Bad communication
- Multitasking
- Negative attitude
- Taking frequent breaks
- Being disorganized
- Showing up late
- Distractions
- Complaining
- Overworking
- Neglecting responsibility
- Working while sick
- Neglecting hygiene
- Lying
- Not being a team member
- Abusing privileges
- Poor feedback
- Dressing unprofessionally
- Ineffectiveness
- Skipping breaks
- Poor language
Solutions on how to break bad work habits
1. Procrastination
According to Forbes, procrastination is one of those bad work habits that can cost your job. Indeed, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the trap of putting off accomplishing projects. People are more prone to putting off starting a long-term objective until the last available time. Because you have to speed through it, this can have an impact on the final outcome.
There may be internal and external causes preventing you from starting this endeavor, such as unexpected events that cause delays or simply not feeling it for the day. Breaking up your assignment into smaller portions can help you avoid procrastination. You can handle the project in stages to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
2. Overworking with no break
It may appear that you must labor nonstop in order to get the most out of your employment at times. The fallacy is that skipping breaks allows you to work more productively.
In fact, taking regular breaks at work is accompanied by plenty of benefits, both for your health and for better work performance. Besides, a 2015 study proves that managers couldn’t identify the difference between those who worked 80-hour weeks and those who didn’t.
Unfortunately, not taking breaks can be taxing on both your mind and body. Taking a few pauses throughout the day, when you have plenty of time, is a simple cure for overworking.
Keep in mind that you will be less weary if you take frequent breaks, and consequently, you will be able to complete more work more efficiently. So, try to control the duration of time spent at work.
3. Taking too many breaks
On the contrary, taking too many pauses can prevent you from being productive. In most cases, a bad distraction habit is what causes it. Snacking every hour, checking your phone, or simply not working for an extended period of time might cause you to lose focus and push back deadlines.
One strategy to avoid taking too many breaks is to simply limit the number of breaks you take. Select breaks that are really important.
This may appear difficult, but give yourself incentives to work longer. However, make sure you’re taking occasional breaks, like lunch breaks because it’s necessary to get out of work mode from time to time.
4. No plans or goals for the week
You can only get so far by making things up as you go. You can lose valuable working time if you don’t know which projects to work on or which components to complete first.
With no game plan, you are more likely to become overwhelmed with your tasks towards the end of the week. To avoid wasting time, create a weekly planner with blocks of time that clearly state what you need to do.
It can take the form of a physical planner or an internet program. It will make your task easier to handle if you can see what you need to do.
5. Being disorganized
Disorganization, whether it’s a cluttered desk, overloaded email inboxes, or late responsibilities, is a poor habit that may seriously disrupt your workday. Workplace tidiness should be part of our daily habits.
In order to avoid being disorganized at work, you can use your desk drawer. Organize your desk so you know where all of your supplies are.
When it comes to emails, try not to let them pile up and go unopened. Organization in the workplace can have a positive impact on your behavior, allowing you to work harder and more efficiently.
6. Bad communication
When you work remotely, you are not in an office with your team. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of not reaching out to them since they’re not right next to you. You may fail to respond to phone calls or direct messages on collaboration apps, leave emails unread, and even miss video conferencing meetings.
However, if you want to perform better, you should work on your communication habits. Poor communication can cause big problems in the workplace. As a remote worker, try to be more proactive in your communication. When working with a remote team, communication is critical for keeping your team informed and engaged.
Set aside a certain period during your workday to check in with your team on all applications. Check your email and answer the most important ones. For faster chats, send a direct message.
7. Being too comfortable with work
Stability is a luxury in light of everything that has transpired around the globe. It may seem pleasant to fall into a routine of what is expected of you at work, but there are consequences to not wanting to change.
From time to time, you become too comfortable with your work, which suggests that you are unwilling to challenge yourself and progress as an employee.
Putting yourself out there is vital job advice that can help you stand out as a coworker. If your supervisor or coworkers require assistance with a project, speak with them. You can learn a lot by dabbling in projects that aren’t directly related to you and may help you progress in your profession.
8. Having a poor attitude
Consider the advantages of remaining professional in the workplace, no matter how irritating the situation may be. These advantages include to name a few, a better working relationship with your teammates, higher motivation and productivity, and increased job satisfaction.
A negative attitude is frequently the result of stress or dissatisfaction with your current job, but no matter what the cause, it’s usually something you can control and change. So, try to identify the source of your bad attitude so you can address it and then attempt to eliminate the cause.
9. Lying
Lying in the workplace is never a good idea. This poor behavior can make a manager or coworkers distrust you, and if your falsehoods violate business standards, your manager may decide to fire you.
It’s critical to act with integrity so that everyone you deal with knows they can count on you, which leads to positive and fulfilling professional relationships.
To break the lying habit, think before you act or speak, try to reflect on your thoughts and behaviors, and make sure that what you do and say doesn’t harm anyone.
10. Disconnected from the team
When working remotely, it’s easy to feel disconnected from your team. Everyone is dispersed, doing their own thing on their own timetable.
Lack of communication with your coworkers can have a negative impact on productivity in the long run. When working on a collaborative project, it’s critical to be a team player.
Participate in group video calls to keep the team up-to-date on your progress. Reach out to your boss and team to foster a sense of teamwork and connection.
11. Negativity
If you have a negative attitude, you may waste time worrying about problems that aren’t actually problems. Furthermore, you risk causing yourself undue stress and early burnout.
Everybody has a bad day. Nobody is flawless, so it’s impossible to always be 100% at work, especially with everything going on in the world right now.
However, there is a distinction to be made between having terrible days and carrying a poor attitude into the workplace on a regular basis. It has an impact not just on your attitude or the mood of your coworkers, but also on the projects you are working on.
Identifying the cause of the problem is a good way to combat negativity. If it is work-related, speak with your supervisor or coworkers to see if any modifications can be made.
12. Not adapting to technology
Companies are using technology such as video conferencing apps, group chats, and emails to stay connected while working remotely. Become more comfortable with the applications that help businesses stay connected. By using technology socially, workers can increase productivity by 20 to 25%.
13. Lack of a proper workspace
More and more people are working from home nowadays, and the number of people who prefer working in offices is declining at a fast pace. Remote employment has increased considerably in the United States, from 7% before the pandemic to over two-thirds currently.
Some people have the luxury of having an at-home office, but the majority of people have to adapt to whatever they have, whether it’s a corner of a living room or a bedroom. Try to carve off a workspace for yourself.
14. Abusing privileges
If your firm provides you with proprietary tools or some leniency, such as allowing you to work from home on Fridays, you may discover that you’ve exploited these benefits.
It may be more difficult to rehabilitate yourself once a manager needs to address their concerns about your performance.
15. Multitasking
Multitasking is a bad habit born of good intentions. When working as a team, you want to be able to complete the most work in the shortest amount of time.
Unfortunately, juggling numerous projects at once might reduce your productivity. So, try to devote yourself to a single project for an extended period of time.
Why is important to break bad work habits?
Good work habits, when practiced consistently, generate performance, resulting in an individual contributing more, boosting job happiness, and developing richer relationships with peers, colleagues, and their reporting manager.
Below are some of the latest, science-supported benefits after you break bad work habits. You can take it as career advice.
List of 10 benefits after successfully breaking bad work habits:
- You can keep distractions to a minimum
- You can achieve the level of “deep work” that will help you become more engaged in your work.
- You’ll be able to use the time as productively as possible.
- You will gain the goodwill of coworkers and bosses.
- You will feel less overwhelmed.
- Getting the job done will be easier.
- You can clear your mind to be able to focus on your current tasks instead of making the effort to keep track of all of your brainstorms.
- You will feel more comfortable at work.
- The chances of achieving job success and getting promoted will increase.
- You will be happier with the harmony of your life and your job.
List of 10 bad work habits for students
Poor habits can follow you wherever you go. They frequently slide into a comfort zone, or they may be a technique for you to cover up your fears.
Whatever the core reason for bad habits is, there’s nothing positive about these habits. That’s why you should recognize and replace them with positive habits. Here is a list of 10 bad work habits:
Avoiding questions when they don’t understand something in class. Students frequently fear being mocked if they raise questions during a session. However, by asking questions, you get the attention of the teacher, who will be sympathetic. When you ask a question, you demonstrate to the teacher that you are interested enough in the subject to want to know the answers. Not to mention the fact that asking questions will lead you to understand the topic you’re concerned about.
Memorization or rote learning rather than comprehension – Rote learning may provide you with the correct words to answer a question like a parrot. These memorized words will not help you understand the subject or provide an answer that demonstrates you have the skills needed to solve other difficulties. It is more vital to learn how to use the tools you are given than to learn like a robot.
Distractions – Mobile phones are one of the most common sources of distraction for pupils in today’s educational system. Smartphones contain tons of apps and communication channels. When a notification appears on your phone, your attention is drawn to the phone and the messages you view. And since paying too much attention to your phone might be a harmful habit, you should try to keep your phone away whenever you study.
Negative attitude – It is a poor habit to not take pride in your work. Sloppy, messy work demonstrates a lack of pride in your job at school. It displays a bad work ethic and a lack of commitment to your schoolwork. Making mistakes is a natural part of learning, but becoming untidy and sloppy demonstrates that you are not serious about your schoolwork.
Ignoring problems – Although asking for help can be difficult, it is by far the best strategy to tackle learning challenges. The student who displays uncertainty about how to solve an issue will be welcomed by the teacher. Developing the habit of quietly expecting that the problem will go away will not aid the student’s advancement.
Making Excuses – Everyone has reasons for not finishing work or doing what is asked of them. Making up excuses for whatever you have failed to do is a bad habit to get into. Excuses may be a cover for a more significant problem, and with an excuse in place, the problem will remain unresolved.
Showing up late – Punctuality is a life skill that must be learned. Arriving late for classes is a bad habit to develop. Punctuality is a form of respect wherever you go in life. It is not a good idea to develop the habit of being late regularly.
Focusing on your friends rather than your teachers – Everyone wishes to be noticed and well-liked. Maintaining social engagements and socializing becomes a difficult habit to break. It is sometimes your own ego that relies on being part of the ‘in-crowd.’
Spending hours studying, but not getting anything done – Determine when you are most productive and when is the best time for you to study. Some students are most alert and ready to learn in the early morning hours. Others prefer to study at night because it is when they are most productive.
Disorganization – Setting high goals will provide an incentive to break negative behaviors and achieve academic success. Examine the list of poor habits and set a goal to eliminate those that you believe are impeding your success. Setting specific goals throughout the year and working on them will help you achieve success more easily.
Bad work habits worksheet
It is a good idea to have a worksheet to regulate, identify, and alter your existing behaviors. Generally, having a worksheet is a great way to get a better understanding of your strengths and advantages, not only at work but in all areas of life.
If you want to break down bad work habits and turn them into good ones, we recommend using this habit formation worksheet. The worksheet consists of three steps. It will help you identify your current habits at first. Then, you’ll break your negative habits and build positive new habits.
The worksheet features a small task list, and by performing these individual tasks, you’ll have an opportunity to focus on your future goals more easily.
Bad work habits FAQ
What are 5 bad habits that you want to leave in your professional career to become successful?
The following 5 bad habits are considered the most harmful to work performance. The chances of achieving success will naturally increase by focusing on these bad habits and trying to turn them into positive ones.
- Poor communication
- Being disorganized
- Having a negative attitude toward the workplace
- Taking too many breaks
- Procrastination
What are some bad work habits?
Poor communication either with your team or boss at the workplace is one of the worst work habits that badly affects your work performance.
Avoiding being a team leader, having poor nonverbal communication skills, and often getting distracted are some of the other common bad work habits that you need to work on to achieve success.
How do you break bad work habits?
In order to break your bad work habits, first, you need to identify your current habits. Use paper clips, specific worksheets, or remainder applications in order to take control of your daily goals.
Focus on the habits you want to acquire and support your success. Even though correcting bad work habits is difficult, constant effort and purposefulness will produce positive effects.
