Starting your first job after college is an exciting transition. You’ve done the work, made the memories, and have the diploma in hand to show for your four years of accomplishments. Now that you’re ready to begin your professional life, take some time to intentionally make some positive changes that will help you thrive in your new role. Here are four bad college habits to break (along with some helpful ideas for making a lasting change). 

Keeping an irregular sleep schedule

While the occasional all-nighter, midday nap, or sleep-until-noon days might have understandably been part of your college routine, you’ll soon realize the value (and necessity) of a solid, regular night’s sleep. Getting eight hours of shut-eye nightly will make sure you stay sharp, alert, and ready to take on the day. Head to bed at a reasonable hour each night (and go screenless an hour before you hit the hay), and try to avoid sleeping in on the weekends to maintain a fixed schedule.  

Living in loungewear

You might have been able to pull off waking up 10 minutes before class, throwing on sweatpants, and hustling to your morning lecture, but showing up to the office looking disheveled can have a real impact on how professionally your colleagues view you. Get a feel for your office dress code and find a few basics that are comfortable, professional, and versatile. Not sure where to start? Check out this guide for navigating workplace style. And if you’re full-time remote, you’re not exempt from the rules. Putting in the effort to make a professional impression, even on video call, can get you in a productive zone.  

Procrastination

Whether it was an on-campus social event, an opportunity to grab pizza with friends, or a night out that tempted you, there were always occasions that seemed a lot more appealing than sitting down and writing that essay. While you might have been able to pull off studying or completing a project at the last minute in college, putting off important tasks won’t fly in the professional world, where they can pile up and affect coworkers who rely on your timely and thoughtful work. Try using a management platform like Asana or Trello to break a project into smaller, more doable tasks. And if you really need extra help avoiding distraction, the Self Control app can block the websites you find the most distracting for a set time period during which you’re hoping to focus.

Waiting for direction (or feedback)

In college, your professors likely outlined their requirements for assignments, projects, and essays in detail, and you probably received it back with a grade and feedback. When you’re on the job, what’s expected of you (and how you’re doing) might not be so clear. Instead of sitting back and waiting for more details or an evaluation of how your most recent proposal went over, be proactive and ask questions. Your boss is likely busy juggling multiple things, and will appreciate you taking the initiative to make sure you complete a task to the best of your ability.