Article: To develop a good work ethic, you will have to take work seriously, and aim to do it well. This doesn’t mean that many important aspects of your life that are not related to work, nor does it mean that you have to work all the time. During work time, work-related tasks should be your primary concern, and make sure you balance your work life and non-work life so that you have enough time and energy to do your work well. If you are partially or completely in charge of setting your own work time, you will have to be sure to minimize distractions when working, and to work for a set period of time. Set a specific number of hours (e.g. 6 hours) and treat it like you're in a professional office. Factor in time for breaks and meals, if necessary. Diligently maintaining a log of the hours you work will help you to do this. . Being respectful of others, showing consistency and reliability, being honest, and other values are part of developing a good work ethic. Many of these values have to do with how you treat others; a work ethic doesn’t just mean working hard, but also working well with others. When you make a mistake or don’t complete your work, don’t make excuses. Owning your mistakes or shortcomings and promising to improve in the future shows maturity and a willingness to work well with others. Aside from working doing your tasks well, you can cultivate a good reputation at work by being honest, following workplace rules (concerning punctuality, breaks, time off, etc.), and being fair to others. Avoid gossiping at work. This will show that you are focused on your job, treat others fairly, and are a good team player. Be personable and wish your coworkers well, but don't get caught up in gossip, oversharing, or office drama. Staying focused, and making choices that will benefit you in the long run are also part of developing a good work ethic. This means being able to tell yourself, and others, when work needs to come first. Values like dedication, ambition, and persistence are valued by employers, and can lead to success in school and work. Remember that if you tell yourself you need to put something on hold in order to take care of work first, it doesn’t mean that you’ll never get around to it. Reward yourself by relaxing or having fun after you’ve finished your work. When possible, try to work around “focus times.” Give yourself a set period of time (such as an hour or an hour and a half) in which you will work deliberately and without distractions. If you are in school or self-employed, then your hours might be flexible, and you will have to be diligent about making time specifically to do work. Even if an employer sets your work hours for you, however, you can benefit from declaring “focus time” if possible—ask others not to disturb you, turn off all electronic distractions, etc. Everyone has certain things that can distract them from work: social media, chatting or texting friends, playing games, watching television, etc. When you are working, make sure to minimize potential distractions, and especially those that you know you are especially drawn to. Be persistent if people try to pull you away from your work. For instance, if people distract you by chatting, tell them you have work that you’ve got to finish, but you’d love to catch up with them later. Often, you won’t reach your full productivity, work speed, or creativity immediately after you start working. Instead, you might need a certain amount of time (10-30 minutes, for example) in order to reach this level. Factor this into the time you set aside for work, especially if you are working on a deadline.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Make work a priority. Be professional Maintain a good reputation at work. Practice self-discipline. Set aside time specifically for work. Know your distractions, and minimize them when working. Understand how your work speed may vary.