What do you do when you've nothing to do?

[coffeewithmilk]

Exactly that...
I'm working in an office at the minute due to being pregnant and covid cases high (I'm usually a clinical worker - face to face with patients)

I have been given no work to do at all.. I've asked for work, nothing to give me at the moment so I'm here until 7 most days.
I've exhausted online browsing, tidying my email inbox, few Netflix series (theres only so long you can look at a screen)

What do you do when you've nothing to do?

Could you look into doing an online course? Something in small modules that you can pick up each day.

Duolingo?

Ugh, this is the worst. You want to work but there's nothing to do and yet you can't really do anything else like go for a walk because you're chained to your laptop in case something urgently needs your attention.

Do you have any option of WFH? Then you could get chores like ironing and baking done during the day.

If there's really no work to do maybe listen to podcasts, or learn some new skills online?

Is there anyone else in the office with you? Ask someone who seems busy if you can give them a hand as it's "quiet in my department today"

Any sort of professional development that you need to catch up with?

I agree - do a free online course - Coursera and many unis have really detailed modules. If you want to feel virtuous do something related to work so you can argue that in quiet times you are showing initiative and developing your skillset. Otherwise, just do something that interests you. I'm doing one now and the modules and lectures are broken down into really short chunks - 10-30 mins each - so it's easy to drop them if work comes in and restart them without losing momentum.

I'm the same. I have a few bits to do but will take me about 30 minutes. It is very draining just sitting here. I sometimes read on my kindle app, read Mumsnet, check the news a million times a day. Still very very draining

I'd do some courses. The OU have some good free ones on Open Learn

I would be complaining to management. There is no way I would go in to work and be expected to do nothing!

Either they give me something to do or I go home.

Oh id love that!

Read a book, sudoku, bbc good food and print nice recipes, plan Christmas,

haha the risk of complaining too much is they sack you as the job isn't really needed.

My situation is that there are two of us doing the job, for approximately two weeks of the month there is enough work for us both, the rest of the time there's hardly anything to do. If there was only one of us then it would be too much during the busy period.

My employer has given me some small tasks to do as and when but they take barely any time to do and add to the mind numbingness of the day.

Just about to look at online courses.

Listen to 'Casefile' podcasts and read would be my go to, but not very productive :-D

It pisses me off & is a regular thing in my industry (research science).

I have tried for years to volunteer for extra tasks, done online courses, looked for extra data, but sometimes all that runs dry. One idea is to volunteer on citizen science tasks (eg., identify condors at feeding stations).

read loosely CPD-ish articles
take back hours of flexi that I'm owed
offer shawdowing/informal training/development/mentoring opportunities to junior colleagues
get ahead with professional revalidation portfolio
find a bit of a project that wants doing - improving a policy? sorting out template letters?

Can you do personal stuff? I'd be going through the thousands of digital photos and getting them deleted / sorted / made into books / printed.

Find a project, do an audit, do online learning are all excellent suggestions.

I was going to suggest masturbation but I can see how that might be slightly awkward in an office environment.

They say everyone’s got a book in them. I’d write - you’ll never get another paid opportunity!

I've exhausted online browsing

No such thing as this surely!

Is there any area in your dep. That you think could do with some improvement? Opportunity lies where responsibility has been abandoned; you might be able to write a proposal or new initiative to help improve processes or conditions in your dep.

These are all really good suggestions!! Thank you everyone.

@ZooeyS that made me laugh!