Technology to solve bad work habits

We all have habits, good and bad. Some of them are personal and others are work-related.

Research shows that it takes 18 to 254 days to form a habit, and while we've often heard that it takes 21 to 28 days to break one, that's not necessarily true. Breaking habits depends on numerous factors, such as the strength of the motivation to break them and the consequences of the habit.

When our bad habits are work-related, they can have adverse effects on our professional lives as well as those of others. Although there are no quick solutions, there are technological tools that help us overcome these deficient routines, even if they are ingrained.

What are bad work habits – and why are they important?

A single mistake is not a habit. Habits are cycles – regular behaviors and actions that are ingrained and become a vicious cycle.

When you adopt bad work habits, they impact your career. They reflect poorly on you as an individual and make your colleagues and managers think less of you. You may miss opportunities for growth and advancement. If these habits seriously affect your performance, they could mean you will be reprimanded – or even fired in serious cases.

Bad work habits also affect your colleagues. If you frequently miss deadlines, for example, your coworkers may need to pick up the slack. Or if you are disorganized, this quality can derail a project. This can lead to resentment, confusion, and other negative feelings.

Therefore, it's best to nip bad work habits in the bud before they escalate and have serious consequences.

10 bad work habits and how to fix them

1. Succumbing to digital distractions

The digital world offers many opportunities and entertainment, but it is a double-edged sword as it can also mean distractions. From an almost overwhelming amount of online content to social media applications, the Internet is a wealth of material – material that prevents many people from engaging in their work when they should.

In fact, the average worker spends 12% of their work time using unproductive social media apps. And that's just one of the many distractions available online, just a click away.

What can we do? Those of us who have the willpower to stick it out all day are the lucky ones. But most of us need alternative ways to avoid falling down the online rabbit hole. Fortunately, there are tools to help.

In fact, there is technology that can prevent you from being distracted by technology! Website blocking apps are an example of this. Using these tools, you can block a specific list of apps and/or websites on your devices for periods of time that you set. Examples include Freedom , Self-control and Focus . There's also PawBlock that shows you cute pictures of animals instead of letting you succumb to digital distractions on your blocked list.

2. Arriving late for work

Some people are late. If you're one of them, you've probably irritated friends and family from time to time with your tardiness. But when you're late for work — whether you work on-site or remotely — you could be putting your reputation at risk, not to mention all your hard work.

Being punctual is essential in the workplace. It's another habit that affects not just you, but everyone around you. So, if lateness is a frequent problem for you, you need to do something about it.

Technology alone won't solve this bad habit, but it can be a tool that will help in your own improvement efforts. For example, if you're often late because you keep hitting the snooze button on your phone, keep your phone away from your bed. Consider setting wake-up alarms on multiple devices, like a smartwatch and a phone, too.

3. Procrastinate

We all put off things we need to do until tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that, occasionally. It's so easy to tell ourselves that we will have enough time to finish everything we need to do – eventually. But if you're constantly leaving important tasks and projects until the last minute, then you certainly can't invest the time and effort necessary to produce good work into them. It is also possible for assignments to go unnoticed.

You probably already know that procrastination – and even worse, missing deadlines – is hurting your work. It's also not good for your mental health, as you'll be constantly thinking about everything you still need to do.

There are many tools that can help you keep your projects on track and stay productive. Consider project management software like Trello , Basecamp , Write and similar applications.

These types of tools can be used on both an individual and business level, encouraging everyone to avoid succumbing to procrastination and stay on track with projects large and small. The software can also help you break down projects into manageable components, each with unique features and deadlines.

And don't forget distraction blockers. These tools can also help you combat the tendency to procrastinate and stay focused.

4. Poor communication

Communication is an important skill in the workplace. Much depends on its fluidity, consistency and quality. And when it is missing, there can be a multitude of problems – sometimes even catastrophic – from conflicts to project stoppages.

Maybe you read an email and tell yourself you'll respond later – only to forget about it for days, then weeks, then months. Or maybe you don't understand the instructions and decide to just figure it out rather than ask for necessary clarification. Maybe your tone is impolite or your body language is off – and yes, that is a type of communication.

It's true that technology can't solve all of these problems, but it can help with many of them. For example, you can schedule notifications and flag important emails and messages to ensure follow-up. You can also use a variety of tools to communicate with your coworkers. As you become more familiar with them, you will begin to understand when it is appropriate to use, for example, Zoom or Slack.

For example, perhaps you realize that communication via phone or email isn't sufficient for a specific task or conversation. You should turn to a video conferencing tool to help you convey your message in an in-person context.

5. Self-isolation

Our professional lives have become increasingly remote. Remote work brings numerous benefits, but along with flexibility and a better work-life balance are some detractors, such as increased isolation. And isolation isn't exclusive to the work-from-home model – it can also happen even when you go to your workplace every day.

Self-isolation is a negative work habit that we can fool ourselves into believing is positive, saying, “Well, I’m working too hard to socialize.” But isolation can have consequences that affect our work and our mental health in general. Humans are social creatures by nature, so it's natural that we need to enjoy interactions and camaraderie with others.

One way to combat this isolation, especially in a remote work environment, is to participate in regular team video conferences. During these meetings, look for opportunities to actively participate and establish camaraderie with others. Turn on your camera if possible and use reactions – you don't even need to talk! – to connect with others in small ways.

Even occasional Slack chats and check-ins can help you and your colleagues feel less alone. A simple “Hey, how are you?” it can greatly help yourself and others get through the day.

6. Succumbing to disorganization

Some of us have cluttered desks. Some of us have messed up lives .

Do you have difficulty keeping up with your appointments and meetings? Are your documents and files cluttered and you have trouble remembering deadlines and finding everything you need? Being disorganized can wreak havoc on your professional life – and your personal life, for that matter – and mean you're not doing the best work you could. You may show up to meetings unprepared or miss important emails and communications. That's a recipe for disaster.

There are many technology tools to help you stay organized and remove clutter . There is no need to rely on physical files anymore. Something as simple as a Google calendar will help you keep track of appointments and deadlines, as well as send reminders so you don't miss anything important. Meanwhile, cloud storage tools like Google Drive and Dropbox will let you archive and save files, preventing them from cluttering your devices.

There are also apps to help you organize and organize your inbox. For example, Clean Email includes a variety of tools that help you clean up your email, such as automating tasks, deleting messages in bulk, grouping similar messages, sorting emails, and presenting different views and displays. This makes it much easier to maintain a cleaner, more user-friendly inbox.

7. Taking constructive criticism personally

Most professionals receive feedback regularly at work. We hope this feedback is constructive and provides practical ways to improve your efforts and performance.

Even for the most resilient among us, it can be difficult to accept criticism, even if it is constructive. But we must remember that no one is perfect and there is always room for growth and learning .

While there are no quick fixes to help you receive constructive criticism and feedback in person, there are tools to help you collect and accept feedback. By receiving more, you will ultimately become more able to learn from it and act on it, thus promoting our professional development and confidence.

For example, collaboration tools like Google Docs allow you to deliver and receive feedback on specific projects in real time. Anonymous digital surveys allow team members to rate their colleagues, subordinates and managers.

If you want to track your feedback and progress, consider using a simple tool like Google Sheets or Excel where you can record positive and positive results. constructive feedback and monitor your progress. This will also help you focus on the positive instead of focusing on the negative.

8. Multitasking

We are all guilty of multitasking to some extent. And although we may think that it is a way to fulfill many responsibilities at the same time and save time, the truth is that the opposite is true: it makes us less productive. Only 2.5% of people can multitask effectively, according to research .

Doesn't seem like a bad work habit. But this is.

So the quick fix is ​​to dedicate your attention to one project or task at a time. Of course, you can switch between responsibilities, but don't try to do everything at once.

If you think the quick fix seems a bit difficult, consider using tools to help you focus on a single task at a given time. Focus Enhancer is an example of an application developed for this purpose. Based on the timer and Pomodoro method, it helps you focus on a certain task for 25 minutes in total, with a five-minute break. The app also offers time tracking and reporting features so you can see your stats and progress.

9. Not setting goals

You could very well be making significant progress in your professional life, but how will you know if you don't set and monitor meaningful goals for yourself? In the professional world, you simply can't play by ear. You need to hold yourself accountable so you can demonstrate your value as a worker.

Many people use SMART Goals to set and track their goals. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant/Realistic and Time-bound. Using this framework is a useful way to set goals that you can actually achieve.

Many of the tools we've already mentioned will allow you to advance your goals and stay on track, like project management software and calendars. Also, consider these additional tools.

Click up is an example. The software breaks longer goals into smaller, achievable components. Through the tool you can name the goal, set a deadline, add participants and much more. Todoist Meanwhile, calls itself a task manager and to-do list that allows individuals to stay focused and organized in work and life.

If you need a little more motivation, consider the Goal Buddy accountability app that lets you manage your goals, track progress, and see meaningful results.

10. Overwork

Yes, working too much is a bad work habit, just like any other on this list – and it's extremely dangerous. Studying by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that overwork and burnout contributed to more than 745,000 deaths worldwide in a single year.

We live in a world that seems to value work endlessly, but we need to stop glamorizing overwork. The consequences are very serious. Yes, productivity is important, but not taking breaks doesn't actually lead to greater productivity – in fact, the opposite is true.

How can you fulfill all the responsibilities ahead of you without succumbing to overwork and, eventually, burnout? It's not easy to turn off the switch that tells you to keep working, especially if you're a high achiever, but it is possible with the help of a few key tools.

For starters, make sure you turn off work mode at the end of each day and when you're on vacation. You can use the same distraction-blocking apps you use to keep track of your work email at work!

You can also set digital reminders telling you when to take breaks. And during these breaks, consider using mindfulness and wellness apps like Freespace .

There are also company-wide initiatives that employers can take to reduce burnout and promote the well-being of their team members. Time tracking software, which measures productivity and time investment, is controversial, but when used responsibly, it can encourage individuals to work smarter, not harder, and prevent burnout. Employers should also remind their teams to switch off when not working.

Positive work habits are important

We've said it before, but it's worth repeating: technology alone won't combat your bad work habits. But it can work with you to help improve what you do and how you do it every day. It can be a useful tool to allow you to conquer these habits once and for all and bring your best self to work – a critical step to growing your career, working well with others, and being the professional you are capable of. to be.

Positive work habits are important – so do the work and bring them to the workplace.