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14 Pandemic-Induced Work Habits (And How To Break Them)

Forbes Coaches Council

Since the onset of the pandemic, professional routines have been disrupted with a majority of people working from home. While this has given some people more time to be productive, others have started to develop bad habits.

Breaking out of this cycle can be difficult, but doing so can seriously benefit your productivity. Below, 14 members of Forbes Coaches Council share bad habits they’ve seen professionals develop during the pandemic along with tips on how to break them.

1. Managing Time Too Casually

The lack of time pressure and “visible” accountability leads to a lack of structure and focus. Some let meetings meander on; their deadlines slip, and they lose a sense of urgency. Time-block all meetings. Shorten them, if anything, to give an added sense of urgency. Commit to early deadlines. Keep the pace high. - Antonio Garrido, Absolute Sales Development

2. Multitasking During Virtual Meetings

Multitasking on virtual meetings is becoming more prevalent. People are there, but they are not there. They switch off cameras; they are typing emails and are on their phones. These kinds of meetings are really a waste of time. There need to be clear rules, and meetings need to be shorter and more to the point. There needs to be a facilitator in every meeting who takes the role seriously. - Mickey A. Feher, MindsetMaps International

3. Letting Go Of Good Habits

Since the pandemic, many hard-won habits have naturally been broken. Prompts and supports for breaks, workday shutdowns and exercise have changed. Consider redesigning your habit to fit life’s new limitations. Be deliberate and start small. You may want it to be social. Be patient with yourself and share your habit story with others who could use encouragement. - Sheila Goldgrab, Goldgrab Leadership Coaching

4. Assuming People Are Okay Because They Say So

Leaders tend to ask people how they’re doing, get the usual short response, and then move into task mode. But so many people are struggling with one issue or another and don’t feel comfortable or safe sharing it. Set up conditions to exhibit vulnerability. Acknowledge some of your own challenges during these times, then ask how they’re really doing. - Joel M. Rothaizer, Clear Impact Consulting Group


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5. Boredom Eating

Boredom eating is the thing I hear about most. Lots of people are suffering the consequences of it. There are many ways to break this habit. First, you must become aware of your triggers. Is it happening when you’re watching TV, or in between Zoom calls? Instead, create a new habit. Drink more water. Chew gum. Get outside or walk the stairs in your building. Connect with a friend. Do something that feels good. - Cha Tekeli, Chalamode, Inc.

6. Checking Emails And Texts First Thing In The Morning

There is a tendency to have work spill into all parts of our home life because of our current work-from-home situation. In an effort to stay connected constantly, the allure of checking your phone can be too tempting. Instead, intentionally swap this morning habit for one that invigorates you: a walk with your dog, meditation or stretching. - Kirsten Meneghello, Illumination Coaching LLC

7. Letting Go Of Daily Structure And Boundaries

Some professionals have let go of structure, rituals, boundaries and micro-transactions in their day. Every day is “Blursday;” work is home; home is work—all of this leads to exhaustion. Rituals reduce stress. Bring back your old routines in a WFH-version. Buy that special coffee. “Dress” for work. Walk around the block. The key is to do them on a regular basis, just as you used to take the same commute every day. - Julie Kantor, JP Kantor Consulting

8. Working Later Than Usual

I have noticed professionals ending their days later than usual during the pandemic. As a brain-based certified coach, I suggest creating new habits or rituals that can replace bad ones. Then, clump the new habit with a task performed daily. Your brain will rewire itself to acknowledge it. For example, shut down your laptop when the smart light bulb installed in your lamp turns itself off. - X. Carmen Qadir, Coaching & Consulting Experience, LLC

9. Keeping Cameras Off During Video Calls

Many employees who are meeting virtually now do not have their cameras on during meetings and presentations. They had to engage when these meetings were in person; now, many disengage without their cameras so that they can “multitask” and do email or other things. This is a bad habit because not engaging fully means that employees are not learning and are doing “surface” work instead of “deep” work. - Susan Madsen, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business

10. Dressing Too Casually On Video Calls

Wear (pre-pandemic) business attire for interviews and meetings where making a good professional impression is important. It’s hard to take someone seriously, or believe that they take the conversation seriously, when they are wearing a vacation t-shirt or gym tank top. - Lisa Coleman, Lisa Coleman Advisory Services, LLC

11. Losing Sight Of Work-Life Balance

Working from home has some negative effects in addition to positive ones. For some, it is more difficult to find a work-life balance when working from home; for others, interpersonal exchanges with employees suffer. When it comes to reconciling work and family, it is about relationships with people that need to be cultivated. The same goes for self-care. - Michael Thiemann, Strategy-Lab™

12. Not Taking Breaks

With most professionals working from home, the lines between work life and home life have blurred, causing many of them to overwork and become burned out. It’s important to schedule start and stop times in your day, as well as breaks throughout the day. In addition, it’s a good idea to take a “vacation” and allow for extended times away from work for your mental well-being. - Carol Parker Walsh, Carol Parker Walsh Consulting, LLC

13. Letting Boundaries Dissolve

Create boundaries and break the cycle of nonstop work. A nonstop work cycle, from the moment they wake up to the moment they fall asleep, is a bad habit that many professionals have adopted during the pandemic. This is not a sustainable practice and leads to exhaustion and burnout. Break the cycle by creating boundaries. Have non-work-related morning and evening routines and prioritize time for other interests. - Shefali Raina, Alpha Lane Partners

14. Not Being Able To ‘Turn Off’

One bad habit that I’ve seen with people working from home is the inability to “turn off.” Because their office is so close, they’re consistently working. I suggest creating rituals around the start and, more importantly, the end of your day. Just as you would bow when leaving a karate dojo to signal that you’re done with your practice, this will signal the end of a workday so that you can be with your family. - Doug Holt, Doug Holt Online

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