Incredibly bored at work - suggestions please

[Champagneforeveryone]

I'm seconded to a project through work, this is my second day.

Shifts are 10 hours long, sat at a desk. With no word of a lie I must have done no more than 30 minutes work yesterday, and today doesn't look any more promising. Fortunately there's no restrictions about internet / phone use but there's a limit as to how long I can stare at my phone for.

My colleagues seem unmoved by the tedium, whereas I can already feel myself becoming slightly unhinged. It doesn't help that my usual role is very dynamic and fast paced, something I've quickly come to realise I thrive on.

So far I'm halfway through a Kindle book, have ordered a couple of Christmas presents and route planned a couple of new walks for my rest days. I'm here till early November unless I throw myself down the stairs first

What on earth am I supposed to do to fill the time? Any and all suggestions gratefully received

E-learning? Relating to the job that you will eventually escape to?!

What on earth is this project? Can you sign up for one of the OU free courses on line ( if they still do them)

Learn to knit socks, it's an excellent time filler and your feet will be warm!

Oh god I feel your pain. I used to have a job like that.

Household planning - write shopping lists, plan Christmas presents

Open learn courses

Duolingo

chocolate I actually love my job (even more so now!)

galileo a colleague did actually teach me to knit before I came here, but I think that's probably one for night shifts 😉

This is tedious, I feel.your pain. I had a job like this and my boss used to go on about how short staffed and busy we were. At least its temporary in your case! E-learning courses, tidy up your cv, plan your next home decorating project/ holiday...

Can you do some of your normal job while you're waiting for the project to kick off? (I presume this is temporary - if not, tell your manager you're not needed on it.)

Any training you could do online?

Askamanager.org

I spend ages on that site.

or elearning

touch typing practice

if any questions are asked it’s boosting your skills

I'm fascinated - what's this project, and what's your normal job?!?

Not enough work can be stressful too! My second job was like that - it was a new role and it turned out that it there was really only one week of work a month of my editing articles before the publication came out. I did scrape around and find other little bits of work (pre smartphones) but left after a year. I wish I'd had the assertiveness to tell them on the way out that it wasn't really a full time job and they would be better off paying a freelancer for a week's work, but I was only in my early 20s and couldn't get up the courage!

My current job can be episodic but we get access to a few training resources and I use them when things are quiet

I've no access to any of my training resources as I'm working on a different system. Otherwise this would be an amazing opportunity to catch up on all the shite accumulating in my actual inbox!

HBGKC I can't really say as it (genuinely!) is outing. Safe to say I'm staggered at the blatant waste of taxpayers money. I'm now pondering where to spend my food allowance tonight and it's not even lunchtime 😬

Sign up to Prolific. You do questionnaires for money. it's mostly academic research, often psychology, so you're contributing to science, taking your mind of the tedium (some of them are really interesting) and earning a bit of extra cash!
https://www.prolific.com/

I'd have Christmas locked down. If the work is genuinely that little, could you offer to do both roles part time?

No such luck I'm afraid as I'm away from home and our systems do not align.

My colleague is colouring in shoot me now

I had a job like this for a year (also tax payer funded and a blatant waste of money).. after I had sorted my whole life out and planned ahead etc I actually resorted to tiktok. Not very MN I know but I managed to whittle away hours

I can relate and am about to change jobs so I can be busy again.

There is a limit to how much e-learning, streaming TV, reading books and even Mumsnetting you can do in a day. Thankfully I go out of the office but even then, there's a limit to how much window shopping I can do.

Only cheered up when I revamped my CV, spent the time chatting to new agencies and got another job.

Online surveys for money. Check out moneysavingexpert.com for best ones.

Read through employment tribunal reports on the internet. They're really interesting, especially if you find any for your own organisation.

Binge watch all the series on Netflix/Prime/Disney plus that you don’t have the time to otherwise.

I had a job like this as a temp. Almost nothing to do. It’s so weird. I think if I were you and I would read and write. Set yourself a challenging reading course. Educate yourself … there’s always more to learn through books and reading.

Is that the answer? Ask IT if you can have access to your actual inbox (if it's a work one) or see if you can bring in your own laptop to deal with that and do other training.

Agree that being busy is much easier than being bored. I would vary exercise or “deskercise” with a project organising something/anything, some online study. I would want to be able to produce something I had done. Ideas are -do a H&s course and ensure the building is compliant, streamline processes etc. Alphabetise the dvds if you have to!

Can you learn a new skill / programme

There are free courses on coursera.
Podcasts.
Christmas planning - organised Mum etc

I’ve heard rumours these jobs exist. I was once asked by a friend what I did to pass time at work during quiet times… I think I stared rather blankly and she repeated “you know, those days when there’s not a lot on…” wtf?! I work in the nhs in an acute hospital so I’m not aware of the concept. The days between Christmas and new year are often quieter but on those days I probably actually get a lunch break.