FOUR HABITS TO CUT OUT AT WORK FOR A MORE CREATIVE YOU

February marks the time where most resolutions become a distant memory. If you had big plans for upping your creativity in 2017, you can still turn this year around. Below are five bad habits to cut out at work so you’ll have more time and brainspace to focus on what matters.

Gossiping
Officemates often become like families, and families talk. It’s great to connect with co-workers on a deeper level, but not for the purpose of dissing fellow teammates. When employees are secretive or exclusionary, trust is lost on all sides, and attention that could be placed on the task at hand is lost. Not only can a gossipy nature ruin a team dynamic, but it will inhibit you from putting 100% into career defining projects. When co-workers start to reflect on personal traits of team members rather than the work, try your best to deflect and keep your creativity rolling.

Checking Social Media During The Workday
Those closest to you will text or call if there is an emergency, and the latest Facebook or Twitter drama can wait. Social media is one of the biggest productivity killers in the workspace because there is so much of it generated so rapidly. Save the tweeting for the train ride home. Use social media to wind down after a long day, and if you’re holding a meeting, you’re entitled to ask for a no phone policy. You have the rest of your day to swipe left or right.

Eating At Your Desk While You Work
Besides the cleanliness factor, it’s important to ask why people eat at their desks. Do you not have someone else to eat with? Are you trying to work through lunch because your workload is overwhelming? These are bigger problems that often result in a sandwich next to your keyboard. Taking twenty minutes away from your desk – and giving your eyes a break from the commuter screen – gives your brain a much needed rest. And if you’re more of an introvert, you can still take your lunch outside for some air and have lunch with nature.

Staying Seated For More Than An Hour
You may be going to the gym after work, but moving during the day is vital for your health. It’s natural to get hooked on an interesting project and lose track of time. By setting digital appointments to check-in with your body, you can take time to stand, stretch, and take a couple steps. Blood flow is one of the most important parts of brain activity. Your company and your co-workers will thank you for moving your body and the moving the project forward.