
How to Acquire Useful Work Habits Leading to Success in IT?
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The IT sector continues to develop rapidly, implementing the latest technologies and adapting to global trends. Developing good habits taking into account current trends will help you achieve success in the IT sector and be competitive in the labor market. Let’s look at the real trends in the IT sector and e-commerce that will become crucial in 2025.
“AI-dependence” in development.
AI is no longer just a tool – it is organically integrated into almost every process. Code assistants (like Copilot or Chat Gpt), automatic testing, demand forecasting – without this we can no longer imagine business and online sales. Therefore, it is obvious that in order to keep up with the general vector of movement, you need to learn to work with AI and study ways to effectively implement various AI tools into workflows.
Personalization is paramount.
Buyers no longer want generic recommendations – they need a website or online store that is as customizable as possible to their personality and preferences in real time. Therefore, IT specialists need to carefully study AI-algorithms of hyper-personalization and test them on their platforms.
Zero UI: minimalism and “invisible” interfaces.
Nowadays, people are less and less willing to press many buttons or spend time searching for the necessary goods and services, moving from section to section in an online store, and more and more want to interact contactlessly and find everything they need as quickly as possible.
Zero UI offers a rather natural and intuitive way to control the device.
This is touchless tech, an interface without a visible part of the interface – Microsoft Kinect, Apple Siri, etc., controlled by gestures and voice, respectively. To learn how to implement these modern ways of interaction, you need to explore modern, relevant voice interfaces, AR/VR and contactless ways of interaction.
Speed is the main currency.
If your store page load time is more than 3 seconds, be sure that in 50% it will be a failure. Everything should work instantly. Yes, you need to constantly optimize and improve the performance of web applications, APIs and databases.
Instead of traditional customer service, service that anticipates their needs.
This is the next level of service and customer care, because now people want their problems to be solved before they even face them. What to do and how to figure it out – AI-analytics of predictive behavior, chatbots with GPT-4 Turbo, automated cross-sell and upsell will help you cope with this challenge.
Work schedule? It’s not just “9:00 to 17:00” anymore.
Traditional work models are increasingly dying out, especially in the IT sector – full asynchronous, flexible schedules, distributed teams. To cope with and adapt to changes, you need to develop your own autonomy in work, digital communication, online etiquette and self-management.
The IT sector is a world of constant change, technological breakthroughs and growing demands on specialists. In order not to just stay afloat, but to survive and really achieve success, you need to develop the right work habits. The formation of new habits is a key aspect of personal development and professional growth.
A habit is a learned behavior or automatic sequence of actions that has become reflexive and does not depend on motivational influence. We used to think that habits are usually formed in 21 days, but now it has been proven that this is just a myth. A realistic time frame for establishing a new habit is about 10 weeks. Some studies suggest that it takes anywhere from 18 to 254 days for new habits to become automatic, with an average of 66 days.
The most useful habits that contribute to the professional development of IT specialists.
1. Reduce time spent on routine – automate everything that is repeated.
Routine tasks eat up a lot of time: manual data entry, the same answers to customers, repetitive reports. This significantly reduces productivity and demotivates. What to do: use AI assistants to automate processes: Copilot, ChatGPT, Zapier, Make; set up chatbots and response templates to speed up the performance of repetitive tasks; use keyboard shortcuts and tools for quick navigation (Raycast, Alfred); plan carefully, because planning is the key to efficiency, you can make plans in a notebook, in notes on a laptop or phone, in special mobile planners or Google calendar.
2. Concentration on the task – the art of deep work (Deep Work).
In the modern IT world, the flow of messages, notifications, calls and meetings instantly destroys focus. Multitasking seems effective, but in reality it reduces productivity and increases the time it takes to complete complex tasks.
Deep Work is a state of deep concentration when you are completely immersed in a task without distractions. In IT, this skill is crucial, especially when working on complex projects, analytics, system architecture, or creative tasks. How to achieve Deep Work? Block out external factors, turn off Slack, Telegram, email, and any other messengers during focused work; work in time blocks of 25-30 minutes, for instance, using the Pomodoro technique; define “focus hours” in your calendar when no one will disturb you; use noise-canceling headphones or white noise if you work in an office; plan work on complex tasks for the first half of the day – the brain is more productive during this period; separate difficult and easy tasks: perform complex ones in Deep Work, simple ones in normal mode.
3. Optimize your work schedule – energy is much more important than time.
Many people work according to the principle of “the more hours, the better”, but this is not the case. It is more important to manage energy and your own resources, not just working hours. Use the “Deep Work” method and the Pomodoro technique to immerse yourself in the work process as effectively as possible, switch between complex and simple tasks in time so as not to burn out prematurely. Set clear boundaries between work and personal time (especially when working remotely). Create your own list of what fills your resources and helps you recover after a busy working day.
4. Be curious – develop the mindset of “how does it work?”
IT is changing very quickly – what is relevant today may lose its relevance tomorrow. But the main thing is not just to know the trends, but to understand the logic of their emergence: do not just use technology, but explore how it works; Read technical blogs and expert opinions, not just general technology news; join IT communities and ask for the opinions of professionals.
5. Don’t think that “Self-improvement is not for me” – IT = continuous change.
Many people are afraid of new tools and technologies or believe that they “don’t need them” because everything works just fine as it is. But you need to clearly understand that expanding your skills provides much more opportunities for career growth. In addition, the knowledge and technologies that you use today may not be enough for your professional stack in a few months. Be ready to learn constantly, this is the current principle of lifelong learning – spend at least 2-3 hours a week on acquiring new knowledge.
6. Online Etiquette – Effective Communication in the Virtual World.
Remote work and online meetings do not eliminate the need to be punctual and polite. However, if in offline meetings punctuality is to start the meeting on time, then in the case of remote calls it is important to check the technical aspects before starting.
Make sure that the microphone and camera are working, the screen display is correctly configured, and also familiarize yourself with the functionality of the communication platform in advance. This will help to avoid unpleasant delays or misunderstandings during the meeting. During group conferences, do not forget to turn off the microphone. This will help reduce background noise and ensure that your interlocutor is better heard.
Write letters or messages briefly, clearly and to the point – no one wants to read long texts. When working in mixed international teams, observe time-zone awareness – not everyone is comfortable responding at night or during non-working hours.
How to effectively implement a new habit?
- Start small: gradualness and small steps are the key to success. Focus on one aspect at a time, do not scatter your attention on everything at once.
- Create clear triggers: associations to consolidate the behavior. For instance: tying a new habit to an existing routine. For convenience, use external reminders – set notifications on your phone or place bright stickers with notes in places where they will definitely catch your attention.
- Reward yourself: positive reinforcement for motivation. In order to motivate yourself to continue implementing a new behavior, set small rewards for achieving even intermediate goals. Also, be sure to mark your progress – keep a journal of achievements to see how far you have come.
- Patience and realistic expectations: understanding the time it takes to form a habit. Expecting immediate results can lead to complete disappointment and even abandonment of forming a new habit. Realize that forming a habit takes time and be prepared for possible setbacks. It is important not to give up after failures, but to continue working on the habit. Remember: sometimes a step back becomes a giant leap forward!
- Social support: involve your environment to strengthen your commitment and motivation. Lack of support can complicate or slow down the process of implementing a new habit. Share your goals with friends or family to create a circle of support. Or join communities of like-minded people – interest groups or online forums or blogs that can provide the necessary motivation and useful advice.
The IT field is not just about technical skills and professional work habits, but also about constant self-improvement and work on your personality. Implementing new habits is a complex but doable process that will allow you to not just stay in the game, but become a leader and a true expert in your field.