By ensuring that you do your best work as quickly as possible, you end up saving some time to spend with family, friends, and other side projects. Speaking of time and work performance, chances are, your computer habits have much to do with your productivity. In fact, some of these habits could also have a detrimental effect on your physical health.

However, let’s not blame that piece of technology in the corner of your room. Instead, let’s look at some of the bad computer habits you should pay attention to and break away from to regain productivity and good health.

1. Mindlessly Browsing the Web

A woman using her computer while sitting on the floor

Raise your hands if you always search for something specific on Google, but end up clicking on related articles. The next thing you know, you’ve lost hours reading irrelevant articles and watching videos with absolutely nothing to do with the task you were working on. While there’s nothing wrong with surfing the web, you want to do it with purpose and during your downtime.

The worst thing about those mindless browsing sessions is that you might not always realize how much time you spend going through one article to another. Not to mention the time it takes to refocus on your task after the distraction.

Thankfully there are several browser extensions you can use to block distractions like StayFocusd. This Google Chrome extension limits your time on specific websites, and you can customize it to meet your needs.

2. Browser Tab Clutter

The result of those mindless browsing sessions is that you often have a dozen open tabs. This is probably your way to keep those interesting articles to read them later. The problem is too many tabs open on your browser strain your RAM, as they take a slice of the available memory.

You might even experience a browser freeze, which can impact your productivity. While you might sometimes have a good reason to keep a dozen tabs open, for example, when researching for a project, in other cases closing some of them can help you improve the performance of your computer.

Besides, there are more efficient ways to keep track of those interesting articles, such as using read-it-later apps to save them. You can also use these efficient Chrome tab managers to organize and declutter your open tabs.

3. Desktop Clutter

Screenshot showing a cluttered desktop

If your desktop resembles a battlefield, you might find it challenging to sift through the clutter in search of that one document. Your desktop is convenient for storing files for quick access, but too much clutter can be counterproductive. Similar to your physical workspace, you should strive to keep your desktop clutter-free and organized to maximize productivity.

Although there’s no one-size fits all approach to tidying up your desktop, there are some key tips you can follow to manage and organize your files. For starters, you should delete unnecessary documents, uninstall unused apps, and empty the Recycle Bin.

Furthermore, you could also create folders to store similar files and pin the applications you use the most to your taskbar. Don’t forget to find a suitable wallpaper to make the desktop look nicer and more inviting.

4. Too Much Screen Time

Nowadays, almost all our daily activities involve a screen—whether using your computer to work, playing on your smartphone, or watching movies on your TV. As a result, you might have too much screen time throughout the day, which can negatively affect your health and productivity.

For instance, the blue light emitted by electronic devices can reduce melatonin production before bed, a hormone that helps you sleep. This reduces the quality and quantity of your sleep, which can impact your productivity. So, consider keeping your smartphone or computer away from your bed to limit screen time before going to sleep.

Furthermore, prolonged screen exposure can lead to screen fatigue with symptoms such as headaches, blurry vision, eye-watering, and more. To counteract this and deal with screen time exhaustion, you can create reminders to step away from your screen every hour, adjust your screen’s brightness or screen filters, and take regular breaks such as stretching or going for a walk.

5. Bad Working Posture

A woman slouching on a couch while using a computer

Your sitting posture and desk setup are essential for comfortable working conditions. Indulging in poor sitting posture because it feels comfortable is a bad computer habit that can lead to fatigue, neck pain, and reduced productivity. So, if you spend a lot of time seated in front of your computer, you should strive to maintain a good sitting posture to keep your spine healthy.

You can start by ensuring that your feet are flat on the floor, while your knees should be at a right angle. In addition, keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed when sitting at your desk. Another way to keep a healthy posture while working is to invest in a comfortable and adjustable chair that provides proper back support.

Finally, adjust the height of your computer monitor or laptop screen so that your eyes are at the same level as the top of the screen while you’re seated. This allows you to maintain a natural position as you look at the screen.

6. Checking and Responding to Emails Immediately

Like other communication forms, email is meant to help you do your best work, not slow you down. So, your productivity is likely to suffer if you’re constantly checking and responding to emails as they come in during your workday, since you will be forced to constantly switch between your inbox and your main tasks.

However, this does not mean you should ignore emails altogether. To maximize productivity while staying on top of your emails, you can create specific time windows during the day to check and respond to emails, such as once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

You should also consider customizing your email notifications to align with this schedule. Furthermore, use email filters and rules to automatically organize your emails into specific folders for quick access when needed.

7. Using Your Computer in Bed

A woman using her computer in bed

This bad computer habit won’t only hinder your productivity, but also negatively affect your posture and your computer’s performance. As you can guess, your bed is not exactly the best workstation for using your computer because you’ll be tempted to lounge and relax while working, which can lead to decreased productivity.

In addition, lying down or sitting on your bed for extended periods can cause neck and back pain, and this can also affect your sleep quality in the long run. Lastly, putting your laptop on soft surfaces like a bed may result in your computer overheating, reducing its performance, or causing damage to some critical components.

To improve your productivity and protect your computer, it’s best to set up a productive work-from-home office that’s ergonomic and comfortable.

Ditch These Bad Computer Habits to Boost Your Productivity

Your computer is essential for productivity, so developing good computer habits and ditching bad ones is vital to maximizing your performance.

Following the tips outlined above is a great place to start when it comes to maintaining good computer habits and improving your productivity. You should also consider assessing your smartphone habits and taking steps to limit their negative impact on your productivity.