What would you do at work if you had nothing to do?

[DancingTurtle]

This is me tomorrow, 9 'til 4. I have access to an office where I can be on my own and would have about 2 seconds warning of someone coming in.

Have you had an honest discussion with your boss to say that you haven't enough work?

I think people underestimate how soul destroying boredom can be.

Oh my gosh I can’t imagine this situation….. if I found myself with free time I would imagine I had lost some children somewhere 🤪

last Wednesday morning I found myself with approximately 7 minutes due to a playground rota teething problem, so I went and played naughts and crosses with a group of children not on the playground so my colleague could fill her tea mug up - probably not what you ment 🤭

If I constantly had lots of extra time - I would probably sign myself up to some sort of open university qualification.

one day of it - take a book , research some ideas for my booktok page , listen to a martin Lewis podcast, start a Christmas plan/ budget, crossstich my mums Christmas card (I only do one card , no one else gets a card but she moans if one doesn’t arrive)

Where the hell to you work op? And are there any jobs going? 😆
Seriously, I’m lucky if I get a 15 Minute break ( apart from my unpaid lunch break.) Any
more than that and I’m hounded by colleagues, can you do this, will you just look into this. Never get to do nothing.
I can’t even with.

*WFH

Yesterday I made a conscious effort to work quickly and gets things done fast, so I could squeeze in mandatory training which requires a pass rate of 100%. Even with my office door shut I was pestered repeatedly by the other colleagues in my vicinity asking moronic questions such as ‘Are you ok?’
Yes, piss off and mind your own business.
Thus wasn’t just on the once. One of them actually came into my office to tell me my appointment was here. Yes I’m not fucking blind. I am capable of looking at the the electronic diary.
After I just stared at here, she then took to pestering me via Teams.
I just ignored all the pestering. I’m doing my job, leave me the fuck alone.
Whilst having nothing to do all day isn’t great, I would love to just get more time and be less busy.

Usually when I have nothing to do at work I ask for something more to do. But I'd happily read for several hours in your situation.
I had nothing to do at work yesterday, and no manager to ask for more work to do, so I tried to build a bike/skateboard ramp out of wood. Made a practice one to try and figure out the angles I need to cut in the wood to attach them, and what shape of wood I need to cut for supports but it was all getting rather complicated and our carpenter wasn't in for me to ask advice from so I went home early in the end.

I had to think back, but yes I did. Back when I'd found my feet I said I'd probably have time to take on some more work, perhaps X or Y. I would say management is not motivated to expand or try anything innovative. They like things just the way they are and my suggestions are unwelcome. I think they feel that they are implied criticisms. They're not, I am just bored and see some opportunities.

Also, the lack of any kind of performance review, one-to-ones or team meetings means that communication is very poor. Colleagues have lots of ideas (and grumbles and worries), but they never go anywhere.

It's perhaps difficult to explain, but I'm not really in a role where I would go to my manager and ask for more work.

I'd do some online courses related to my job. But I'm sure I could find something to do even if it was just ringing round all my clients for a catch-up.

In your case I'd maybe try and find some online training to do, that would be a good use of time that no one can complain about and would be a bit less boring than doing nothing!

Came back to say I was bored this week so I made a thing for LinkedIn. Did it in Canva and everything. Am quite chuffed.

Reading your latest updates it sounds like a really dull place to be. It would do my head in too.

I find this crazy situation. I speak to my manager at least once a week so have plenty of opportunity to say I've finished X or Y. And they naturally say she great would you be able to do A and B or help colleague etc. I find it so odd to ever be in this situation.

OP has already said she is in the final few years from retirement. So not looking for promotion or reskill.

I certainly would not twll my boss I didnt have enough work because then you will get lumbered with all the bum jobs no one else wants to do.

I would re-position my desk or monitor so it can be immediately seen by someone who enters the office. That would give you a few seconds to stop doing whatever you are doing that isnt related to work. I used to have days like that when I worked for a university. I started an Ebay shop and still run it. There are other platforms now. If there is a firewall or IT monitors your internet usage take in a laptop of tablet and use the app. When you run out of things to sell on Ebay, Etsy or Vinted you can design a course for how to run an online shop and market it.

I go months with little more than a “hi, are you alright?”, “yeah, you?” between my manager and me. He’s not based at the same site as me.

I’m not in to online retail or sales, but it is very interesting to read what others would do.

Treat yourself to a copy of the latest Cormoran Strike book and enjoy!

I am in a similar position. Have never had a job where I fill my days and have lots of capacity. Usually exceed my objectives and managers happy but never give me more work even when explicitly asked for.

I have recently started an apprenticeship (one of the leadership ones) more to fill up my time than anything. If it is a large ish organisation it won't really cost them and you should allocate a day a week on it.

The hardest part was answering my manager how I am going to fit it all in, and not being able to say will waste less time.

😂. Good to hear from someone who has had similar experiences!

I took Monday and Tuesday off but back today. Worked until about 10:30 and then bored stiff. Such a long day.

I’ve decided I’m leaving. I can’t carry on like this but will only leave for something much better. It’s a niche role with not many options locally, but I’ve approached a couple of places. I’ve also been doing a bit of online training.
Next week things will start to pick up as a new project comes on board.

Well done on making your decision

I am in a similar position but I am approaching retirement so spend spare hours:

knitting
reading the news
washing/ironing
going on Mumsnet
mindful colouring
listening to the radio
preparing meals

LOVE it! My Managers are happy with my work and at my last Review said that there was absolutely nothing I needed to develop on!

When I do have work it is intense and can be emotionally draining but it only takes up 50% of my working day (plus I’m very organised)

Good decision op, boredom at work is shit.
If I was in the unlikely situation in the office of having nothing to do there are loads of things that need doing that no one ever has time for. Organising the supplies cupboard for one, everything needs labelling and so much stuff needs binning as it’s out of date (merch not perishable foods!!) but no one has the time so whenever any of us need anything we spend so long rifling for the right things.
If I was on a wfh day with nothing to do I’d do one of the boring team admin tasks that we are all allocated to at some point on a rota - I’d just call the person who was due to do it and offer to do it myself.
It’s pretty much hypothetical because I never have nothing to do 😆

Wow what do you do? Is it because you have specific knowledge that unique to your level of experience.

My work by definition almost is intense for all of it. And has work outside of hours too. I am shattered. I am thinking I need to retrain!

My. Mental and physical health would be so much better if the day was broke up into down time and intense periods.

I'd take a book or Google dream homes
online

I don't want to give myself away(!) but it's a niche area of knowledge. So, although it can take up some time, I'm more paid for what I know and what problems I can solve, than any actual "hard work". This means, that even when there's no time-consuming work to do, they want to keep me here because nobody else could do what I do. (And honestly, nobody else would really want to do it either).

I'm sorry that your work is taking its toll on your health. I've been there and it did me so much harm.