Developing an effective work ethic is the KEY to finding success in and outside of the workplace or college classroom! A good work ethic will make you a more valuable employee as well as a very diligent and prosperous student. But how do you develop or improve your work ethic?
We’ve all been there, that feeling of intense fatigue as soon as your alarm clock goes off. The strong lack of motivation driving to work or school. The feeling cripples our productivity levels and raises cortisol (stress hormone), making us very unhappy and unenthused.
Many of us could admit that our work ethic could use some well…work. So, in order to develop an effective work ethic, follow these 9 simple methods that you can easily employ to improve your work ethic substantially! They’re not as hard or as complex as you may think!
How to Improve Your Work Ethic for Ultimate Success
1. It all begins with how you feel
Make sure that you are taking care of yourself and your overall health and wellness! A healthy body and a healthy mindset create a healthy approach to work or school.
Your day will optimally function when you get enough sleep each night, eat foods that are more healthy and less processed, and exercise regularly! If you are feeling tired and lethargic every morning, I’m sure the last thing that you want to do is go to work, right?! Well, this feeling can simply be caused by a lack of quality sleep, poor levels of exercise, and eating too many processed foods.
Aim to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep each night! Also, try walking or biking to work or school if you can, and try swapping out your sugary afternoon snack for something that is healthier and will actually fill you up. Healthy snacks such as fruit and nuts, cheese sticks, peanut butter, vegetables with hummus, and Greek yogurt with berries!
You’ll be surprised how you feel each morning when you swap out your old habits with these more satisfying and healthier daily habits.
2. Practice punctuality
Strive to always be on time, or even early, when going to every appointment, meeting, class, function, or basic work/school day. Always be prepared and plan for the unexpected when getting ready and leaving for work or for class.
When you arrive early, you receive an even bigger advantage! It gives you time to talk to your boss about any important issues, develop better relationships with your peers or co-workers, and allows you to get a head start on your tasks for the day.
If you are in college, arriving early allows you to talk one-on-one with your professor. It also gives you the opportunity to go over any of your notes and assignments before class begins. Arriving early ensures that you will be well prepared and ready for whatever gets thrown at you throughout the day.
Practicing punctuality is even helpful for those who work from home or take online college courses! Develop a schedule that you plan to stick to every day. Focus on finishing the assignments that you put into your planner and pre-scheduled for that specific block of time!
Related Post: “How To Always Be On Time Starting Today”
3. Eliminate distractions
Eliminate all possible distractions around you! This could be what ultimately leads you to procrastinate and not getting your work done on time.
Checking your email inbox is a big distraction and it should not be something on your to-do list! Scrolling through your social media accounts shouldn’t be something that’s a priority as well.
When it comes to eliminating distractions, try turning off all social media notifications, close pointless internet browsers, and turn off any distracting sounds from music or from a tv.
If there is a quiet break room, try going there to do your work if your fellow co-workers are the ones who are distracting you. Or simply tell them that you have too much work to get done, and you need this time to finish it!
Use your time wisely and do not let distractions lead you to procrastinate on your work or assignments!
Related Post: “How To Stop Procrastinating Once And For All “
4. Practice self-discipline
It is so important to stay focused and not get side-tracked by mindless distractions or temptations. Stick to your decisions and focus on the short- term and long-term goals that you have set for yourself. Practice staying persistent, and always follow through with your task and assignments.
Don’t tell yourself, “I’ll save it for tomorrow,” when you could easily get it done right now. Lay down your own expectations right in the very beginning of your day, and strive to stay consistent and concentrated on your tasks.
5. Strive to be very dependable
Dependability is one of the most important characteristics a worker or student can possess. It is highly respected by employers and fellow employees. Whenever you promise to get a job or task done, always make sure that you do so, on time, when it is due! Or before if you can!
A dependable individual notoriously shows up on time and remains consistent when accomplishing each task and project given to them. Being dependable shows that you are a very responsible and driven person, which could potentially lead to job security and an increase in your pay scale!
If people know that they can depend on you to get the job done, you will be rewarded with the utmost gratitude and respect from everyone around you.
6. Develop professionalism
Professionalism isn’t just looking your best and “acting the part.” It’s not putting on an expensive suit and tie or an all-black, sleek dress, and calling yourself “professional.”
Professionalism is all about how you conduct yourself or “behave” in the workplace. Practice developing a sense of professionalism by refraining from gossip, whether that be by initiating it or by engaging in it. Be respectful of others, including those who are above or below you in the workplace or corporate ladder. Be honest about your mistakes and opinions, and be sincere towards your clients and your peers.
Have a positive mindset every time you walk into your place of work! Likewise, always be consistent and reliable in what you say and in what you do.
7. Set your own high standards
The main purpose of setting your own standards is to provide accurate and good quality work. Whether you’re a student or an employee. If you set your own standards for what constitutes a great day at school or in the office, then you will reach your goals quicker! You will also be far more inspired to actually do the work. Setting high standards for yourself also ensures that you are reaching your fullest potential. It also gives you that sense of achievement and success.
How do I achieve and set higher standards for myself?
It is so important to have clear, realistic targets and end goals for every single task. With that, you must plan and prioritize each task or project. That way you know when to work on them and for how long. Always ask your peers or boss for feedback or constructive criticism, and take responsibility for any mistakes that you make.
When it comes to setting standards for yourself, an easy and simple approach is to set S.M.A.R.T goals!
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Timed
It will keep you well organized and help you develop better time-management skills in project development, employee performance management, and personal development!
Most importantly, take pride in what you do! For school and for work, make sure that you are taking pride in your self and recognizing the hard work that you put in day in and day out!
Related Post: “The Top 7 Characteristics You NEED To Be Successful”
8. Stay balanced
Take care of yourself throughout the day! Schedule in little break times that allow you to get up from your desk, turn your computer and step away from your assignments.
Make sure that you are drinking water and eating enough nutrients throughout the day. Take some time to go for a walk and clear your mind or take a quick power nap if you work from home. This will allow you to reset your brain and get ready to go back to tackling your goals for the rest of the workday!
Likewise, don’t keep your eyes glued to your computer screen! To develop or improve your work ethic, you need to stay balanced and keep your mental and physical health a priority!
9. Don’t let mistakes beat you
One major way to improve your work ethic is to practice getting back up when mistakes and errors knock you down. People who have profound work ethics admit their mistakes and use them as learning experiences. They recognize the problem and then they simply move on from it.
If you allow mistakes to beat you down, your desire to complete your task will quickly dissolve. You need to embrace your failures! Great things come out of the failures that we all make. No one has ever achieved great success without messing up at multiple stages along the way. And you are no different, my friend!
Take Thomas Edison for example, when asked about how he felt failing 10,000 times when trying to invent the light bulb, he brilliantly stated, “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” (source)
Therefore, take pride in your failures and mistakes but you’re a step closer to success!
Remember, a reputation for hard work and dedication travels! Word gets around about who puts in hard work every day, and also who is known for giving substandard effort. Maya Angelou once famously stated, “Nothing works unless you do.”
Use these 9 tips to help you improve your work ethic right now! Don’t wait until you go back to school or have your dream job! Utilize these tips today before you develop a negative mindset towards work and tasks in general! Develop a reputation for being a hard, productive, and dependable worker, and see how your approach to work will change for the better!
Do you agree with these tips? Do you have any helpful tips of your own?
Let me know in the comments!
xo, Cydney
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