What are some of your negative habits? We all have work habits we wish we did not have, and now that the new year is here, it is time to examine some of them and work on changing them. 

Here are some of the worst work habits you should attempt to eliminate to have a better and more productive day at work.

What do you consider your "poor habits" to be? Perhaps you are biting your nails, chewing with your mouth open, or sleeping with the TV on. But what about the poor behaviors that are affecting your work productivity?

It has been said that "people are creatures of habit," and it is true: your habits find their way into your subconscious, and you may be doing terrible behavior unconsciously every day. 

When you think about it, if an activity has become a habit, it usually happens automatically and without the need to think about it. These behaviors will determine how effective or ineffective you are in your personal and professional lives.

You can recognize your harmful behaviors with the aid of this article so that you can take control and try to reduce them. If you need some motivation, here is a list of the most prevalent productivity-killing habits.

Getting ready for work in the morning as quickly as possible

You are not allowing your brain enough time to unwind, reset, and prepare for the day if you start your day in a frantic frame of mind. 

Instead, you are pumping it full of adrenaline first thing in the morning, which could lead to a crash later. To have a calmer start to the day, try waking up 10-30 minutes earlier and perhaps meditating first thing in the morning.

Working without a set schedule

Are you one of those people that work whenever they feel like it? If you do, you are setting yourself up for failure. A work regimen is necessary for setting your thoughts in the right frame of mind to be productive.

You are always entering into work mode cold if you have a routine leading up to work—such as where you work, your desk arrangement, drinking a cup of coffee, or listening to the same music style—which makes getting in the zone that much more difficult.

Multitasking

Multitasking may be the worst and most common of all bad habits. Multitasking offers the impression that you are working hard and staying active, but it leads to inferior output.

When you multitask, you give each task only a portion of your attention while focusing the majority of your attention on switching tasks. To put it another way, your energy is being spent on switching tasks rather than completing them.

Chronic multitasking is perplexing for the human brain, as those who multitask are more prone to unnecessary distractions and are also more likely to falsify their recollections, according to studies.

Rather, be a perfectionist. When you begin a new activity, do not stop working on it until it is completed. This may be difficult at first, but it will eventually increase your focus and, more importantly, the quality of your work.

You can also execute related jobs in a "batch" if they need similar mental energy. As you try to break your multitasking tendency, this can be a good compromise that allows you to conserve mental resources.

Taking care of the simple stuff first

After you have made it to your workspace, it is fairly tempting to get all the easy things out of the way first before tackling the harder stuff. This is especially true when faced with a difficult assignment. 

Putting off difficult activities, on the other hand, means moving them further down the to-do list and, in many cases, postponing until they become urgent and all the more intimidating.

Researchers have discovered, however, that doing the most challenging activities on your list first thing in the morning improves your overall productivity. 

Because your willpower and brainpower decline during the day, your brain will be better at handling the most difficult activities first thing in the morning, when you are more concentrated and have fewer distractions.

Trying to make everything perfect

Perfectionism refers to having overly high job standards and/or feeling off-balance when things do not go as planned.

When you have unrealistic work expectations, on the other hand, you will work yourself to death on your chores. As a result, you will be behind schedule and have a mountain of duties to complete. 

Furthermore, when things do not go as planned, many perfectionists mentally "leave," even if the project is still on schedule for someone else.

Giving too much pressure on yourself

You are putting too much pressure on yourself because you have not completed your assignment.

There will be occasions when you simply cannot finish your assignment promptly. It could be due to an emergency, another pressing task, or simply one of those days when being productive is difficult.

Do not focus on the situation if this occurs. That is just how things are sometimes. 

Allow yourself some leeway and engage in a de-stressing activity that evening so that you may return the next day refocused, pick up where you left off, and continue. We are all just people!

Having a long list of things to do

If you have 10 or more items on your to-do list, you will almost certainly be unable to do them all. 

And towards the end of the day, you may be discouraged by the numerous tasks that have yet to be completed.

Keep to-do lists to a maximum of 5 items. This will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed and will assist you in completing your to-do list.

Choosing an inconvenient work chair

All chairs are not created equal, which is especially important if you have back, shoulder, hip, or neck pain. 

Many people, like those who use ergonomic desks, miss the influence their chair has on their brain function, energy levels, and soreness—all of which have an impact on productivity.

Working for days on end in an uncomfortable chair will eventually take its toll on your back, which requires sufficient lumbar support and curvature to keep your spine healthy and pain-free.

Although ergonomic office chairs are more expensive than regular ones, they are nevertheless an investment in your health and productivity. 

The FlexiSpot Ergonomic Office Chair OC3B is a popular alternative that can be altered to fit into almost any space and is also extremely adjustable.

Check out these other recommendations to avoid common ergonomic blunders once you have set up an ergonomic chair to assist your back and posture.

Working from an uncomfortable workstation

Using a poor workstation is one of the most common productivity killers that individuals are not even aware of. If you are serious about your productivity, your workspace should reflect that.

It is time to invest in an ergonomic desk to increase your productivity. These workstations are made to help you work more efficiently and effectively, with better posture and back support.

Standing desks are the most ergonomic desks, as they have been shown to result in more productive work. 

FlexiSpot standing desks are adjustable, allowing you to alternate between sitting and standing, which improves your health and blood flow. However, once you have set up a decent standing workstation, keep an eye out for frequent blunders to avoid.