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Original poster

What do you do when you’re bored at work?

83 replies

Freaking0ut · 16/04/2019 10:16

When it’s quiet and you’ve done every other thing you can think of and you’re bored off your tits and it’s only 10.16am, what do you do?!!

I need some ideas! Any good websites I can look at? What do I need to organise that I haven’t already?! Obvs it needs to be something that allows me to look busy 😬 otherwise I might shrivel up and die of boredom by 5pm

OP posts:
Nesssie · 16/04/2019 10:18

geoguessr. So flipping addictive.

MrsGrannyWeatherwax · 16/04/2019 10:22

Reorganise the filling, sort out cupboards, clean my office area, go for a wander and chat to people (about work), do spot checks of staff etc

Probably depends what job you do ...

Youngandfree · 16/04/2019 10:23

Curious about what you do that has you bored at 10.16Confused surely there’s a boss that you should be reporting to??

Original poster
Freaking0ut · 16/04/2019 10:24

mrsgranny if we assume that I’ve already done all those things and there’s plenty of office chat already going on. It’s an office based job but it’s affected by the easter holidays and other stuff that’s recently gone on which means it’s unbelievably quiet 😫

OP posts:
moglovesredroses · 16/04/2019 10:25

I hide in the back and eat biscuits

mrsgandy · 16/04/2019 10:25

Well if you can get away with it and no one minds I would download a good book and enjoy a read .

WoogleCone · 16/04/2019 10:27

I shred old paperwork

Lozzy25 · 16/04/2019 10:27

I wish I had this problem at work! I never get a moments peace or head space in my career (pre school teacher) Grin

WoogleCone · 16/04/2019 10:28

Or browse Twitter but I can get away with that as social media scheduling falls under my 'marketing' subroll

likeridingabike · 16/04/2019 10:28

Wouldn't happen in my job, but there's always something work related to read or mandatory training to do.

IWouldPreferNotTo · 16/04/2019 10:30

Pick something off my continuous improvement list and work on it.

Years ago I was taught that everytime you see a process or system which could be improved make a note and work on it in downtime.

The other thing I learned was to automate as much work as possible. Excel macros in my very first job turned 30 hours of work into 3 and got me a new job as we could get rid of the role.

Youngandfree · 16/04/2019 10:33

😮 oh ok well I can honestly say I don’t know 🤷‍♀️ I’m a teacher so that never happens and it’s never really happened in any other job either. Maybe...online shopping? 😂

Youngandfree · 16/04/2019 10:36

You see also if you have to “look busy” who are you looking busy for?? Boss or just general customer me or both?? If I were you I would just approach boss and ask if they need any help, or would like anything done etc. my mum always taught me to take initiative and keep busy.

Babdoc · 16/04/2019 10:37

I would have celebrated! (Hospital doctor).

notacooldad · 16/04/2019 10:40

MN!
We can have a lot of time where theres not much happening and things are up to date and signed off. Our manager has the view that we should embrace the downtime because when things kick off, they really do kick off!!

( property damage, assaults on staff, dealing with self harm and in the last 3 months reeling from a suicide from a young person, Inquests, court cases etc)

Original poster
Freaking0ut · 16/04/2019 10:41

Lozzy I have just moved out of teaching so I totally know what you mean! This is the other end of the scale and it’s taking a bit of getting used to.

This is only meant lightheartedly. I totally get that everyone has busy jobs. Right now I’m not busy that’s all!

Any good podcasts I could listen to while I’m looking busy?! Grin

OP posts:
Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 16/04/2019 10:45

I sit and swing about on my chair chatting shit 💁🏻‍♀️

Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 16/04/2019 10:45

Off menu is funny to listen to.
Adam Buxton is always a good shout too.

resultswithintwoweeks · 16/04/2019 10:46

Surf the web. Which is bad 'cos I work for myself from home and there is always work to do if I want it.

OurChristmasMiracle · 16/04/2019 10:47

Find free courses to do that relates to my role or personal interests.

Go assist my manager so we can slack together. 😬

In general though my role is very busy and only quietens just before holiday periods.

LazyFace · 16/04/2019 10:49

I had this for years. Worked as a receptionist. I asked people around if they had any jobs for me to do etc. But even with that it was sooooooo quiet for days on end.
I used to read forums, recipes. Online courses are a good idea (I wasn't allowed books.)

ReginaGeorgeous · 16/04/2019 10:51

This happens very rarely for me, but my employer has an extensive programme of online learning on our intranet that you can access to develop your career.

Stripyhoglets · 16/04/2019 10:51

I wish this was ever a problem ive never had nothing to do in 25 years in my job!

Original poster
Freaking0ut · 16/04/2019 10:51

chance there’s a lot of shit being chatted!

OP posts:
zhivagodr · 16/04/2019 10:53

I can honestly say I have never had this problem in my current job (unfortunately!) I think I’d begin my novel...

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