3 Bad Habits That Are Killing Your Productivity

We'd all like to be a little more productive. Acquiring some new habits can be a great way to increase your output. But a few bad habits can undermine your day in a very big way.

It’s easy to get caught in a routine that we think is normal. We often don’t consider some habits bad because everyone else seems to be doing them as well.

But some negative habits can have a bigger impact on your productivity than others. And those our precisely the ones you want to zero in on and change right away.

Here are 3 habits you need to break right now in order for you to work at your productive best.
 
1. Stop Hitting the Snooze Button

A great day starts with a great morning. But hitting the snooze on your alarm is only going to make you feel worse.

When we hit snooze, our bodies attempt to go back into a deep sleep. But 10 minutes is not enough time to do so. As a result, when we are awakened the second time, our bodies are more tired than when the alarm first went off.

​To get yourself started on the right foot, it's important to get up and out of bed when your alarm is originally set. You'll feel less tired and have more time to enjoy in the morning. To do so, follow this simple trick: place your alarm at least 5 feet away from your pillow. Creating some distance forces you to get up and move when your alarm first goes off.
 
2. Stop Checking Email Every Hour

If you use your phone as your morning alarm, then you might also be checking your email too early. This is not a great way to start your day.

Email is a very important communication tool. That goes without question. But when we check email too frequently, we let our inbox dictate what we do with our day. As a result, other people’s agendas begin to take greater importance than our own.

To cut down on how often you check email, try making it a little harder to receive inbox notifications. For example, turn off the badge alerts on your phone. And don't have your email open on your desktop throughout the day. This will only tempt you to check more than necessary.

We tend to inflate how important email messages are. Start to get a different perspective on your work and ignore email for a few hours at a time. Your output will see a drastic change as a result.
 
3. Stop Letting Meetings Go Into Overtime

Meetings are a part of everyday life. There's just no getting around it. Some are more valuable than others, but we need to meet with others to succeed.

But even if you are not the organizer of the meeting, it doesn't mean that you should let things get out of hand. Use the time allotted to your advantage so you can keep the conversation focused. Use a timer and remind fellow participants when there is 10 minutes left to wrap things up.

And what about getting out of a meeting that is going to go over anyway? Tell your group that you have another commitment to get to. You don't have to share details or have another meeting scheduled. You've got important work to do today. And if that is not an important commitment, I don't know what is.

Question: What bad habits are getting in the way of your productivity? Leave your answer in the comments below.