By Dr. Robert Glatter | Posted: July 24, 2019

Our habits define how effective or ineffective we are. The problems that arise due to bad habits interfere with our work in many areas of our lives, personally and professionally. As the major part of our efficiency depends upon productivity, to eliminate unhelpful habits we must first identify and then fix them. Although self-judgment is hard, it’s essential to look honestly at ourselves for the sake of improvement. Here’s a list of some bad habits that may kill your productivity:

1) Smoking:

In individuals suffering from acute or chronic diseases, productivity problems can result from smoking. Smoking affects your physical and mental health enormously and doesn’t let your brain work optimally, decreasing your productivity levels drastically. Moreover, people also get affected by second-hand smoke and thus bear even more of a loss of productivity. Many people tend to shift from smoking to vaping as a cure (really a cure?) in an effort to quit, but they end up becoming a chain vaper. 

So, it’s recommended to find healthier options to distract your cravings. Many people smoke, thinking it reduces their stress, but in fact, it increases many risks. Meditation is the best way to quit smoking because it releases stress and puts you in touch with an inner source of peace and fulfillment. When you’re calm, you also realize the value that you’d wasted over dozens of cigarettes and how it negatively impacted your productivity and life in general. Eating healthy, nurturing yourself, chewing healthier gum, talking about quitting, etc. are many ways to start quitting smoking.

Read more: Overcoming addictions with yoga.

2) Mobile phones:

Excessive use of mobile phones serves as a primary cause of distraction. First off, it decreases your productivity level and affects your sleep as well. The blue light coming from the mobile screen slows down the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, which makes you feel more tired. You remain awake for longer and waste hours and hours on it. 

As a result of going to sleep late at night and waking late, your brain can't work efficiently, decreasing your productivity level. If you stop this habit, like other people who don't use mobile phones late at night, you’ll wake up fresh with high energy, thus resulting in the right productivity level. 

Setting your time for mobile phone use, leaving your mobile phone in another room or turning off your phone overnight, all help to remove the temptation of looking at it again and again. So, moderate your mobile phone use before bedtime, and sleep well free from distractions. Doing this will not only improve your productivity but your relationships too. 

3) Indecisiveness:

Whatever its root cause could be, indecisiveness kills your productivity. Sometimes making decisions is hard; no one likes to make wrong decisions. But I’ve realized that being indecisive is worse than making the wrong decision. Failing in making a decision ultimately ends up in an unfinished task, thus affecting your productivity. 

One way to overcome indecisiveness is to give yourself a deadline that will force you to make a decision. And if you’re open enough, even if the decision was wrong, you’ll learn. So, spend less time making decisions and make more time to be progressive. Quick and good decision-makers become good leaders. With minimal effort and practice, you can master the art of decision making. Here also, meditation can play a huge role. With clarity and calmness from meditation, you’ll definitely be better equipped to make the right decisions. 

4) No proper work routine:

If you’re in the habit of doing work whenever you want, you’re making yourself less productive and setting yourself up for disaster. A proper working routine is essential to gear up your mind towards productivity. To get yourself into appropriate work, work at the same place and the same time; this habit will set you up to naturally flow in productivity mode. Of all the habits you have, this will be the best one to cultivate.

5) Multitasking:

Multitasking is one of the causes of decreased productivity. By multitasking, people think they are being super-efficient. However, they can't even focus on a single task with proper concentration. In other words, you’re wasting your energy on switching jobs, not completing them. 

According to research, only 2 percent of people can multitask, whereas 98 percent of people hamper themselves without even realizing it. So, it’s better to finish one thing and then move on to the next, because multitasking drains productivity.

6) Not avoiding distractions:

Failing to prevent distractions can directly harm your productivity and efficiency. Distractions are a significant factor that can easily drag you away from work even if they last for a short period. And if you keep distracting yourself, your performance will be profoundly affected. 

According to the research conducted by the University of California, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to your work after interruptions. So, it may be good to stop receiving cell phone notifications, stay off social media, and use your smartphone less. These suggestions will help you to focus on your task and accomplish results that you aim for. 

7) No breaks:

It can be dangerous to work, work, and work until the job is done perfectly. There are more chances of making mistakes if you work non-stop until your brain begins to shut down. Taking a break allows us to get back at the job with full energy and purpose. You should go for a trip for a week or two and spend your time in nature; it maintains your enthusiasm and always keeps you in the desired productivity zone.

If you think that you aren't productive enough at your work or home, identify your underlying habits. Depending on what those problems are, implementing some or all of the suggestions mentioned above may help you get rid of those habits, improve your productivity, and achieve greater success and happiness. 

Dr. Robert Glatter is a certified Emergency Medicine physician, adviser/editor to Forbes, Medscape Emergency Medicine, and an affiliate of WebMD. He has a keen interest in public health education. Follow him on Twitter.