The workday feels like it’s dragging on forever. You’re bored. You may get to the point where anything is better than just sitting there.
You may be apathetic, suffering from tedious tasks, or need more work to keep you busy.
Here are some ideas for how to stay busy at work when bored.
Go for a Walk
You can get away from your desk by going for a walk. Taking a break may give you some energy.
You can walk outdoors if the area is safe. Otherwise, you can walk around the office. Remember to be considerate of others that are working.
You could also pair up with another bored coworker and walk together. Then, your walk could be considered networking.
If your workplace has a health program, your steps may count towards the program’s goals.
Participate in Chat Channels
At my last office job, there were many Slack channels. The primary purpose was team communication, announcements, and requesting help or advice.
However, there were other channels for personal interests, such as hobbies and pets.
My favorite channel was for cat lovers. I made new friends and was able to share pictures of my cats.
So, when you are bored, you can look for a chat channel that interests you.
You could respond to those asking for help with something you know how to do.
Learn a New Skill
Some workplaces offer training on new skills through sites like Coursera.
You can explore the options and choose something that you are interested in that may not be related to your current position.
Also, you could choose something to build desirable soft skills for most jobs.
You may be able to earn a certificate or meet a goal for continuing education.
Find More Work
When you are bored, someone else on your team may be overworked. Ask your coworkers or boss if there is work you could help with.
Clean Your Workspace
You can stay busy by cleaning and organizing your workspace.
Whenever my desk is less cluttered, it’s easier for me to work. There are fewer distractions!
And it’s easier to find things when organized.
You could also clean your laptop, mouse, keyboard, and monitors.
Write a Thank-You Message
You could spend time writing thank-you messages to coworkers or your boss.
If your workplace has an employee appreciation program, you’ll want to write your thank-you messages through the program. There may be an online portal.
At one of my former offices, we awarded points to our coworkers when thanking them. Then, the points could be redeemed for rewards like gift cards, TVs, small appliances, etc.
Even if your workplace doesn’t have a program, you can still express your gratitude to your coworkers.
Make Lists
Make a list of all your tasks that need to be done. Then, check things off the list as they are completed.
Once you have the list made, if you still have time to burn, you could rewrite the list in order of priority.
If you don’t have any work, you could list the work you would like to do. Then, you could ask your boss for opportunities to do that type of work.
Or, if you need a distraction from work for a while, write out your grocery list.
Organize Your Email
If you’re not an inbox zero person, read unread emails, organize emails, delete emails, etc.
This could fill hours of your time if you have thousands of emails to go through.
Determine Why You Are Bored
What’s the reason behind your boredom? Once you know why you are bored, you can do something about it.
I did the same type of work for many years. However, it no longer felt challenging or rewarding—some tasks’ repetitive nature made for some very dull days. Eventually, I decided to work for myself as a self-employed writer.
Here is a guide to help you determine your reasons: Bored at work: what your apathy is trying to tell you.
Leave a Little Early
When your work has natural ebbs of busyness and downtime, you could leave early to do something productive in your personal life. You can get a few things done, knowing there will be other work days where you’ll be extra busy and need to work over.
Leaving a little early can help balance out the busy times. However, you should only leave early if the practice is acceptable at your workplace.
Create Useful Documentation
If you’re repeating the same steps or process, consider making documentation to help others complete the task.
The key here is being able to make your notes useful for others. For example, can you create a guide that someone could follow to complete the task?
Talk With A Coworker
Having friends at work can make for a more enjoyable workday.
Have a conversation with a coworker who has a shared interest. For example, do you both enjoy the same show? Are they also a cat lady?
Just make sure you are not interrupting their work. They may become resentful if you talk too much to them when they are busy.
How To Be a Good Coworker: 10 Do’s and 8 Don’ts From an Expert
Do Research
Is there something your workplace would benefit from? Or perhaps there is a program you think your office should use.
Could you do research and build a case for your idea?
Many years ago, I had a coworker provide enough evidence to management proving that we would be more productive with two monitors. Eventually, because of his research, having two monitors became standard.
Join a Committee
Some workplaces will have committees that anyone can join, such as health and safety.
There could also be a committee that organizes fun activities, social events, or the annual year-end party.
Watch a TED Talk
Watch a TED talk on YouTube related to your job or a job skill.
Take notes, and share the highlights of what you learned at your next team meeting.
Plan a Team Outing
If your team does an occasional outing together, be the one to come up with ideas for your next team outing.
The advantage of being the planner is you’re more likely to do an outing that you want to do.
Become a Better Coworker
Are you a good coworker? Are there things you could improve on?
Stop Procrastinating
Is there work you are putting off that you could be doing? While it may be boring, you will have something to do if you stop procrastinating.
Learn How to Improve Your Career
Being bored and doing nothing about it at work will not improve your chances of success.
Look at Funny Work Memes
While not productive, looking at memes can provide an entertaining distraction for a few minutes.
You may see a meme that you want to share with a coworker.
Words Can Be Hard
There are some words that I struggle to pronounce. If you struggle with pronunciation, you could practice saying the words correctly if you are alone.
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