How to Build Work Habits: 25 Expert-Backed Tips

No matter the industry or role, effective employees share one key trait: they have landed on a set of work habits that help them get more done with less heartache. Fortunately, building productive work habits and routines doesn’t require superhuman willpower—sometimes a nudge in the right direction will do the trick. 

Depending on your working style, that may look like an accountability partner, habit triggers, or digital reminders. Developing positive habits gets easier when you set goals, then visualize progress to keep the momentum flowing.

In this article, we’ll explore some proven techniques for developing effective work habits and examine why they’re so valuable. When you find the right mix of tactics, you’ll unlock new avenues to productivity while saving yourself time and effort.

What are productive work habits?

Productive work habits are repetitive activities, behaviors, and strategies that improve job performance. They include intentional choices, like managing time well and staying organized at work. A morning productivity routine and mindful micro-breaks are examples of good work habits.

Why are good work habits so important?

Good work habits improve concentration, help you make the most of your time, and improve productivity. They can also help you handle stress better. A Slack study found that when employees took daily breaks, their ability to manage stress increased by 230 percent, and their ability to focus on work increased by 92 percent.

As you bring positive work habits into your daily routine, it’s important to keep a few things in mind to achieve success:

• Consider your working style. Productive work habits stick when you take cues from yourself and figure out what structures and environments help you do your best work. For example, maybe working remotely in a relaxed coffee shop, versus in a busy office, results in more creative energy.
• Improve workplace habits gradually. Try to establish one or two positive behaviors at a time rather than making large, sweeping changes all at once. Incremental improvements can lead to lasting routines.
• Use time management strategies. According to Slack’s Workforce Index, employees who maximize productivity are 2.2 times more likely to set focus timers and 1.6 times more likely to block time. These good habits limit distractions and enable deep work.

How to improve your work habits

Big changes, from upskilling for a promotion to replacing bad work habits, don’t always call for big gestures. A few improvements can work together to yield meaningful results.

Progress often starts small, with consistent routines like setting a regular sleep schedule or keeping your space organized. These simple practices can set the framework for long-term success at work. Here’s a list of good work habits to build into your routine.

1. Take advantage of reminders

Until new good habits become second nature, put cues or reminders in plain sight. Physical or digital prompts act as behavior nudges, guiding you toward productive routines. For example, try setting reminders two days before task deadlines.

You can also use reminders in Slack to stay on schedule or remember to take a break. In Slack’s break experiment, participants received daily prompts from managers to step away from work. Reminders paired with social reinforcement of habits helped increase the number of people taking true breaks by 65 percent.

2. Rely on simple visual cues

Sometimes building habits isn’t about doing or not doing specific things. It’s about creating an environment that leads to better outcomes.

Try these visual indicators and behavior adjustments for workplace focus:

• Write out your to-do list. At the end of the day, put tomorrow’s task list on your screen to trigger your morning productivity routine.
• Use visual time management cues. Plenty of computer and phone apps can help you track and manage your time. You can try one of the many Pomodoro countdown timers or color-code your calendar with time blocks to keep your focus.
• Give yourself tangible reminders. Put a sticky note on your monitor to remember to take a break or keep a water bottle on your desk to stay hydrated.

3. Make it easy

When something takes less effort, it’s more likely to get done. Instead of opening software for a focus timer, launch a deep work session from your desktop by setting Slack to Do Not Disturb. Rather than scanning a day’s worth of messages, view an AI-summarized daily recap.

You can also break an unhelpful habit by making it less convenient to do. For example, to curb procrastination or distractions during focus time, put your cell phone out of reach and pause notifications, then work in one full-screen project window. These steps reduce interruptions and require more effort to check messages or view different tabs. Design your workspace, workflows, and goals to support positive work habits naturally.

4. Reward yourself

A quick reward reinforces progress. It makes wins visible and motivates you to repeat good work habits. Use time management tools like a habit tracker to see your progress.

Add something tangible to create momentum. Treat yourself when you implement a new work habit. For example, if you power through an hour of uninterrupted focus, step away for 15 minutes to relax or grab a coffee.

5. Plan to fail

Many people slip up or have a setback when trying new things. After all, good habits in the workplace take time and effort to build. In fact, team members at one leading employee experience and analytics platform share and discuss mistakes in a dedicated Slack channel.

It’s not about expecting failure, but learning and recovering from mistakes. Chatting with accountability partners, leaning into backup plans, or simply taking mindful micro-breaks can help you get back on track. When mistakes happen, be kind to yourself. Self-compassion generates the courage to try again.

6. Batch similar tasks

Combine task batching and time blocking for a sustainable routine. Use task management methods and tools to categorize activities. Then, boost productivity with visual cues, like blocking time in your calendar or setting a focus timer.

For example, instead of checking messages sporadically, set aside time to handle all communications at once. Repeat this step to knock out approvals or admin work in a single session.

7. Leverage habit stacking

Productivity-focused habit stacking is a strategy that adds new behaviors to an established workplace routine.

Follow these steps:

• Identify a current routine. Look for things you regularly do, like turning on your computer or listening to voicemails.
• Specify a new behavior. Choose a simple habit that flows naturally after the first. For example, log action items after voicemails instead of reading industry news.
• Create a habit-stacking statement. Use a short formula to document your habit stack: after [existing work habit], I will [new work habit].
• Start small, then chain stacks. Add short, easy-to-perform habits first, then use them to trigger new steps for longer routines.

8. Track progress visually

Seeing your progress is a powerful motivator. Each crossed-off task or tally mark becomes a cue to keep going. Over time, visual reminders help you view goal progress as concrete wins.

Start with a simple checklist, progress board, or habit tracker. You can even use a physical calendar to mark successful days. As you stack habits together, consider using productivity tracking metrics and tools.

9. Set clear, measurable goals

Specific, trackable goals help you form lasting work habits. After a setback, they also remind you why you’re changing your routine in the first place.

Here’s how to turn goals into work habits:

• Attach deadlines to tasks. Use time-bound goals to boost commitment and accountability.
• Define success. Choose measurable outcomes, like completing a certain number of focus sessions.
• Document your goals. Pull everything together in a productivity plan and use a goal framework to structure each target.

10. Break big goals into small wins

Don’t give yourself a massive goal that feels overwhelming. Instead, break it down into a checklist of smaller goals. Taking your mind off the bigger picture and focusing on its components creates a healthier environment for success.

Make a to-do list and get as specific as possible. Instead of listing “big presentation due tomorrow,” break it down into smaller pieces such as “add transitions to slideshow,” “conduct two practice run-throughs,” and so on. That way, you can cross them out quickly and feel good about your progress.

11. Eliminate habit killers

Occasionally, schedules throw habits out of balance. Other times, your environment or mindset gets in the way.

Remove barriers with these tips:

• Reduce distractions. Adjust app notification settings, clear clutter from your workspace, and batch tasks to reduce context switching.
• Recognize triggers. Look for things that occur before mistakes. Do your good habits wane at specific times of day or after you check social media?
• Disrupt bad habits. Make it harder to fall back into negative routines by uninstalling time-wasting apps or logging out of websites.

12. Automate habit triggers

Think about how it feels when you sit in a quiet workspace or use noise-canceling headphones. Maybe that’s when you focus best on deep work or reflect on your day. Automating habit triggers can work in the same way. Your environment or digital tools nudge action, helping you be more productive at work.

Explore automation capabilities, such as:

• Default app settings. Automatically update your Slack status or block focus time on your calendar so your apps signal when to move on.
• Time-of-day alerts. Adhere to habits for mindful breaks or work-life boundaries by giving yourself a five-minute heads-up alert to wrap up tasks.
• Agent-driven nudges. Use AI-based workflows to build better habits. For example, an AI agent can prompt you to log a milestone after finishing a task.

13. Involve an accountability partner

Turn good intentions into great work habits by holding yourself and a partner accountable. Along with answering to each other, accountability partners support teammates and offer feedback. Make collaboration convenient by scheduling check-in reminders and using digital tools like Slack clips for asynchronous updates.

Slack AI also helps to instill accountability in routines at work.

• Automate feedback collection. A Slack bot can collect and disperse weekly responses.
• Give real-time recommendations. See suggestions for better workflows with Agentforce in Slack.
• Track progress. Make a monthly thread or pin a message per habit so partners can use emojis to check in.

14. Schedule reviews

Block off time for a weekly reflection on how you’re doing. Start as small and simple as needed, then expand your review session using triggers and habit-stacking methods. At a minimum, stick to the same day and time each week.

Look over your progress, using a straightforward checklist or in-depth habit tracking analytics. After reviewing your tasks and goals, update next week’s plan and pat yourself on the back.

15. Celebrate milestones

A work habit milestone means a new routine is sticking, and you can verify it. That’s a reason to celebrate. Update your progress board and post a quick shout-out. Ask others to share their wins, no matter how small.

Consider these milestones:

• Zero after-hours messages. Recognize 14 days of sticking to work-life boundaries.
• Consistent time blocking. Give a thumbs up after completing four “inbox-clearing” tasks.
• Workflow improvements. Share good news when automation has triggered 10 habits.

More top tips for improving your work habits

Mix and match methods to find what fits your working style and environment. Implement these 10 good work habits alone, or build them into existing routines.

• Identify keystone habits. A powerful, foundational habit triggers other positive actions naturally. Embrace a quality, like punctuality, to build momentum and spark additional good work habits.
• Use the two-minute rule. Knock out anything you can do in two minutes immediately. Not only is this an effective work routine for productivity, but it’s also one of the top time management tips for curbing procrastination.
• Create a morning ritual. A structured morning productivity routine sets the tone for workdays, remotely or at the office. Establish one habit, add a related task, and repeat until you have a satisfying, consistent routine.
• Protect focus time. Distraction-free hours help you achieve deep work and better results. Use AI-enhanced tools to automate your availability and stay on track. Consider smart scheduling, time blocking, or “Do Not Disturb” mode in Slack.
• Practice mindful transitions. Mindful micro-breaks are intentional, small pauses between meetings or tasks. These simple but good work habits can help you avoid information overload and reduce burnout by resetting focus and energy.
• Learn to say “no.” Healthy work habits are key to sustainable productivity. Try work-life boundary setting strategies like saying “no” to a meeting when teams can communicate asynchronously, or it cuts into your focus time.
• Reflect on failures quickly. Weekly reflection habits paired with AI tools for instant feedback help you learn from errors, adjust, and move on. AI provides an advantage, with 44 percent of daily users saying real-time feedback improved performance.
• Document and share best practices. Reinforce habits and share examples of your successes to encourage accountability in routines. Outline steps and required tools in shared documents for easy team access.
• Call on peer recognition. Employees in positive work environments make a habit of praising co-workers for achieving goals. Use accountability partners and habit tracking analytics to measure progress. Recognize peers with shout-outs on shared channels.
• Use visual progress boards. Visual habit tracking tools like dashboards and canvases display progress and provide examples of good work habits for better teamwork. Seeing completed tasks sparks motivation.

Build positive work habits into daily work

Doing something once or twice is easy. It takes more effort to engage workers and develop productive work habits. You can build momentum by starting small, teaming up with co-workers, and automating steps.

To form routines that last, use Slack to keep everyone on track. Teammates can share progress updates with Slack polls and celebrate wins in dedicated channels. By syncing Slack statuses to calendars and sharing schedules, teams can protect focus time and plan collaborative sessions with less back-and-forth. Explore how Slack can transform your team’s work habits.

Work habit FAQs