SKIPPING LUNCH
There is a learning curve for every new job or position. It may take you longer to complete your duties until you get the hang of it. That doesn't mean you should skip lunch or eat at your desk to catch up, get ahead or prove your dedication. This is an unhealthy habit. There are many reasons why taking a lunch break is not only healthy but good for business too. Employees who skip lunch or eat at their desk often hit up a fast food restaurant for a quick snack or meal. Whereas, people who leave for lunch usually plan ahead and eat healthy. You should leave the office; eat meals that include whole-grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty water. Eating lunch is also the perfect opportunity to take a walk around, because sitting all day is not good for your body. Besides, taking a break, clearing your head and getting some fresh air can actually increase your productivity. Your lunch break is also the perfect time to do something that you enjoy or your chance to run a quick errand, make a personal call or log onto your favorite social media channel. Some executives use their lunch break to relax, read or even take a quick nap and recharge. Just don't forget to eat. Most people find that they are re-energized after taking a lunch break and ready to tackle the rest of their workday.
WORKING LATE
Your mind and body need downtime. Working an eight-hour day and then staying late at the office or coming home and working two to three more hours is a dangerous pattern to start. Studies have found that working late at the office can increase your chances of heart disease and stroke. It can also set unrealistic job performance expectations. If you stay up late to get a three-day project finished in two days, you are setting unrealistic expectations on how long these projects should take to complete. You run the risk of those timelines becoming your new norm, which may not be sustainable in the long run. You may be new to the job and looking to prove yourself, but starting your career by working late every night will put you on the fast track to burning out not moving up.
A better strategy is to observe the culture and work flow at your new job. Find out the typical office hours your colleagues keep and adopt similar hours. If you're worried about getting finished with work on time, come in a few minutes early and stay a few minutes late. Don't stay hours late or bring your work home. This does not mean you can't occasionally work extra hours to get a project done on time. It just means that you shouldn't make it your daily work routine.
CHECKING EMAIL LATE AT NIGHT
This is a challenge that many executives face now that just about everyone has a smartphone at their fingertips. It's so easy to check your email in the evening, over the weekend and even while on vacation. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 44% of adults check work email every day while on vacation and 54% check email while home sick. This level of connectivity is bad for your health and productivity. It's crucial to unplug from the office and completely decompress so that you can head into work the next day completely refreshed and energized. That will better equip you to secure promotions than burning the candle at both ends.
Set boundaries for your down time from the start for any new job and position—and stick to them. Your health and career will benefit.
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