There’s a lot of advice out there on what you should be doing to improve your career. You should be setting boundaries, you should become a leader, you should start learning a new skill… and the list goes on and on. But what about the things you should stop doing?
Sometimes we don’t even recognize we’re doing something because we’re so set in our ways. Even if you recognize that you’re doing something that you shouldn’t be, it can able difficult to change old habits. Change is hard, and if you’re getting by just doing things the way you are now, it can be tough to switch things up.
But life is about more than just getting by, and sometimes a switch-up is exactly what you need. The end of the year is a symbolic time to stop old habits and start new ones. (You don’t have to wait for the end of the year – you can start putting these into practice now! But if you need some time to mentally adjust to the idea of changing things up, then take your time.)
Here’s a pro tip to keep in mind: studies have shown that starting a new habit or stopping an old one is more effective when you do it on a beginning day, such as a Monday or the first day of the month. There’s a ton of fantastic advice about changing your routine in Atomic Habits by James Clear.
You spend so much of your life at your job, so it’s essential that you do what you can to make your career work for you. Take a deep breath and open your mind. Then, take a look at how to improve your career by leaving these moves behind at the end of 2021.
Stop Ignoring All Your Benefits and Perks
Your job probably offers the traditional health, vision, and dental benefits – but what about the small perks? I don’t mean the snacks in the break room or the free coffee. Many companies and organizations offer substantial perks in addition to standard benefits.
Ask your HR rep if your company offers any of the following perks, or if they have a plan to start offering them:
- daily wellness options
- complimentary lunch
- mental health services
- relaxation spaces
- flexible schedules
If your company doesn’t seem to have any plan to offer any sort of wellness perks in the future, you might want to start asking yourself if you really want to stay there long-term. However, if they are making a genuine effort to be responsible for employee needs, give them a chance.
It’s time to stop ignoring your perks and take advantage of them. Whether it’s a discount on your gym membership (you can use your savings to buy the new workout gear you’ve been eyeing) or paid sick days that you’re not taking, you need to take advantage of all the perks your job is offering.
Whatever you do, stop leaving your benefits and perks on the table! Take advantage of them and take care of yourself.
Stop Networking for the Sake of Networking
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: networking is the key to career success. However, networking can be exhausting. It can create shallow, fake connections and unequal relationships. Speaking with someone just because you think that it’s good for your career is superficial and practically degrading.
If networking is making you feel exhausted or unhappy, take a break from it altogether. Give yourself space to breathe and exist. When you feel ready to take on networking again, make sure you do so with the mindset of forming authentic relationships that will help you find a sense of community.
Stop Living with Burnout
Burnout is a real problem that shouldn’t be ignored or minimized. Physical and emotional exhaustion, along with a sense that you’re not as accomplished as you were before, are two key parts of burnout. The last factor is perhaps the most important one: a loss of personal identity.
Living with these experiences is exhausting. If you’re not sure if you’re living with burnout, take a look at this list of questions from the Mayo Clinic.
Don’t let burnout take over your life. Consider taking a break from your job if your employer will let you, or start looking for a new job. It’s cliched but it’s true: you only get one shot at life, so don’t waste it living with burnout.
Stop ignoring all your benefits and perks, stop networking just for the sake of networking, and stop living with burnout. By leaving these career moves behind, you’ll have a better chance at improving your life. Once you stop doing these harmful things, then you can focus on starting new habits that will make your work life more enjoyable.
