While the pandemic has changed the way we work, it has also caused many of us to develop unhealthy habits. The lack of certainty of the last two years has left many people trying to cope to enforce any kind of framework, from continuing to work excessive amounts of work to trying to juggle a million tasks at once.

Indeed, its analysis of Google search data revealed that, by the end of 2021, UK employees were turning to the search engine in record numbers to seek advice on how to manage these habits, with a 53 percent increase in searches for ‘chronic procrastination’ between November and January alone.

Other toxic habits affected by an increase in searches include multitasking (which increased by 50%), workplace stress (which increased by 30%), signs of burnout at work (which increased by 22%), and decision fatigue (which saw a 14 percent increase).

We’ve discovered that more and more of us are looking for these toxic workplace habits, and it’s more important than ever to understand how to overcome these negative traits:

Multitasking isn’t just bad for productivity – it impacts mental health, too:

But it’s not all bad news. Because, while it is clear that many employees are struggling with toxic workplace habits, there are a variety of ways to break these bad habits – and replace them with positive ones.

Set boundaries between work and home:

You may be well aware of the advantages of setting boundaries – but putting those boundaries in place is an entirely different matter. If you have trouble unwinding after work and find yourself worrying about tasks in the evenings and on weekends, this is a good place to begin.

“It’s critical to take time out of your day to disconnect from work and spend time doing activities that bring you joy, such as catching up with friends and family.

“When you finish for the day, properly switching off can help you destress and feel refreshed when you start to work the next morning.”

Collaborate and communicate with others:

Working with others and sharing ideas is an excellent way to boost motivation and create a positive environment that makes you feel good.

“Collaboration can help boost innovation and generate new ways of thinking, and communication is an important part of creating a positive work environment.”

“Spending time connecting with your coworkers can help to boost team morale and reduce stress levels.”

Use effective stress coping strategies:

If you don’t already have a toolkit of stress-coping strategies at your disposal for when you’re feeling frazzled, now is the time to start.