6 bad professional habits you should give up in the new year

Many people make resolutions for the new year. It's a time for them to determine what changes they'd like to make and what goals they'd like to achieve.

But, what if you took the opposite approach? What if -- instead of only deciding what you'll do this new year -- you also decided what you'll stop doing?

Chances are, it'd be the perfect opportunity to give up a few of those pesky behaviors that plague your professional life. So, where do you begin? Start by kicking these six bad professional habits to the curb.

1. Procrastinating

If you're sick of dealing with that constant stressful scramble as you bump right up against a deadline yet again, vow to give up procrastinating in the new year.

More From Inc.com: Want to Look Cool? 30 Gifts Under $30 for Millennials

Perhaps that means you need to let go of some of your professional obligations. Or, maybe you just need to be better at managing your time.

Determine what changes you need to make to avoid those dreaded time crunches, and you're sure to feel more in control of your time and your workload.

2. Interrupting

Do you constantly catch yourself jumping in and cutting off your conversational partner when he or she is right in the middle of a sentence?

There's no time like the new year to improve your communication skills -- and, luckily, all this takes is a little bit of awareness on your end.

Focus your attention on actively listening to who you're speaking with. And, when you're feeling tempted to jump in, take a deep breath and wait until your partner pauses.

3. Distracted Listening

Speaking of listening skills, distracted listening is something you should aim to bid adieu to when the calendar turns.

You know what sort of listening this is -- the kind when you halfheartedly nod along while your eyes are glued to your phone or your inbox.

The people speaking to you deserve your undivided attention. So, rip yourself away from those distractions and make an effort to actively listen.

4. Gossiping

Let's face it -- gossiping never ends well. It's a habit that serves almost no purpose, other than to spread information that's often false.

But, with that being said, it's a trap that's all too easy to fall into -- particularly when it seems like an effective way to build camaraderie with other colleagues.

This year, promise yourself that you'll resist the temptation and avoid the lure of gossip. You'll be glad you did.

5. Running Late

Are you one of those people who perpetually runs at least ten minutes late to everything? It might not seem like a big deal to you, but chances are high that it grates on other people.

While occasional delays are understandable, there's no reason for you to be late on a consistent basis.

Give that up in the new year and -- trust us -- people will be that much more willing to actually meet up with you.

6. Floundering

Nobody likes to spend each day feeling as if they're spinning on a hamster wheel -- just doing whatever they can to chip away at that to-do list.

Instead, feeling like you have a larger mission or objective helps you to feel like you're actually working toward something that matters.

So, commit yourself to stopping that aimless wandering through each work week and instead set some bigger goals for yourself. It's a surefire way to give yourself a renewed sense of purpose.

While making resolutions for the new year is great, it can be just as helpful to give some bad professional habits up. If you're guilty of any of these, bid them adieu in the new year and prepare for your best year yet.

RELATED: 11 nervous habits to avoid at work

More on AOL.com:
8 Productive Things to Do Over Your Holiday Break
How to Actually Unplug Over Your Holiday Break
4 Tweaks to Make Your Elevator Pitch Stronger