Navigating my mid-career, I quickly realized I couldn’t stick to the same habits I had in my wild 25-year-old days. Life had evolved, and so had my approach to work. However, some habits become so ingrained that we don’t even recognize their impact. That’s why I decided to do a little audit on my personal and work life. I trimmed the fat from bad habits, streamlined the extras, and adopted habits that align with my current career stage. Here are my 5 work habits that have been game-changers for my daily grind.
1. Cultivating Diversity in Collaborations 🌈
In a world where “culture fit” dominates workplace conversations, I advocate for embracing “culture adds.” Rather than hiring clones, working with people with diverse talents, personalities, and work styles can help cultivate a more productive and collaborative environment. Learn how showcasing your unique qualities during a job search can make you an indispensable asset to any organization.
2. Always Be Passively Job Searching 🕵️♀️
Keeping an eye on the job market isn’t just a precautionary measure; it’s a strategic habit. Explore the importance of staying informed about industry trends, hiring patterns, and skill requirements. A passive job search is not about daily applications but understanding the landscape, ensuring you’re ready to pivot when needed.
3. Effective Task Management ⏰
Ever found yourself perpetually postponing a simple task? Guilty as charged! That’s why I kick off each day by sorting tasks based on their importance, brainpower needed, and time commitment.
Label tasks by importance (High, Medium, Low), brainpower needed (Maximum, Attentive, Podcast), and time commitment (actual time or a designated time slot). It’s like a mini GPS for your workweek.
Here I have to talk about my secret weapon – Notion. It’s like a supercharged digital workspace where chaos turns into organized bliss. From to-do lists to collaborative documents, from managing projects with Kanban boards to turning notes into databases, it’s a one-stop-shop that keeps me on track. Highly recommend it! 🚀
4. Prioritizing Personal Growth 📚
With the arrival of motherhood, my perspective on time and priorities shifted. Explore how a simple yet profound change – replacing non-work screen time with reading – enriched my personal and professional life. Prioritizing reading became a catalyst for a more mindful use of time, impacting both my career and personal happiness.✨
5. Strategic Calendar Management 🚀
Setting reminders is easy, but sticking to them? Now, that’s the real challenge. As my career grew, so did my responsibilities. I got the whole calendar and notification game. Revamped my strategy, asked myself the big questions before adding anything:
- Why does this need to be on my calendar?
- For recurring tasks, when and how often should it be scheduled?
- What’s the project deadline, and does it need multiple time slots?
- What’s the punctuality factor? Is there space for unexpected plot twists?
Might sound like a lot, but it’s a game-changer, especially when juggling multiple priorities. Procrastination and interruptions happen, but these time management hacks set the stage for success.
Conclusion
As a mid-career professional, acknowledging and refining work habits is essential for sustained success. Explore additional good work habits and gain insights into effective communication, boundary-setting, work-life balance, and more. Share your thoughts and advice with me in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation going!
