Help! How do I give my life meaning?

[WheelOfMisfortune]

Posting for traffic...sorry for the dramatic title.

Basically I am in a really bad place mentally, my binge eating disorder which I was getting under control has returned full force- purely because I feel like I have no purpose.

My work is the main reason for this. I show up at 9, all my work is done by 10 and there’s nothing for me to do the rest of the day. I am very well paid and love my team, so not particularly inclined to leave, but I am going insane with boredom. I go home feeling like I’ve accomplished nothing, ready to do it all again the next day, and it really gets me down. I’ve started buying crap at lunchtime and eating it all afternoon at my desk, which is not at all good as I’ve just this year managed to get a binge eating disorder semi sorted and now I’m gaining weight again. I’m struggling to get that under control and I really just need something to fill my time/brain.

What would you do if you were me? I have asked for new projects, tasks etc, which sometimes I get, but mostly I am left to my own devices. How do I fill my time? What would you do?

Thanks for listening.

CaptSkippy Your answer really hit the nail on the head for me. I don’t want to leave a good team, and I should definitely start using the time for my benefit.

At the same time, you and other posters are right that I have been a bit passive about it. I think it stems from my frustration at the situation- ‘well I’ve asked and there’s nothing for me to do, that’s not my fault.’

I’ll spend this afternoon trying to think of gaps I can plug and projects I can suggest.

Thanks all.

rose69 I would love that but the world is a daily deadline type of work, so I need to be in every day.

I’ll ask about charity days though.

Talk to your boss and be honest - ask for more work. But be careful what you wish for.

You could sign up to become a magistrate. Someone I worked with did it.
You have to study law (not at uni or anything just a couple of training days and read some stuff) and work are supposed to release you for a certain number of days a year. You don't get paid but you do get expenses and lunch.
Would be interesting and good on your cv. Also they frown on snacking in the court room

Interesting! I’ll take a look, thanks RayRayBidet!

Also - be careful how you word it when you speak to your boss and suggest some projects you could work on. Frame it as 'I think we could really benefit from this as an organisation because of x,y and z, and I can dedicate some time to it'; rather than 'I have nothing to do'. Otherwise they might decide they can do without you altogether and you'll be out of a job.

OP, I have been where you've been. (It's funny I get to say that twice today). For me it was an okay team, but when I went and proposed my own projects they gave them to a guy who already had too much on his plate, didn't care for it and didn't finish it. That was the final straw for me and I left.

Funnily enough, I am again in a similar situation. I do project work abroad, but sometimes I don't know why I am being send to certain projects as there is fuck all for me to do and starting my own projects within said projects has proved often impossible. No internet connection and limited suitcase space means that studying opportunities are severly limited. I bring nothing in studying materials, but what I have on my phone in ebooks and apps and doing that over pretending to work, would definitely raise some eyebrows (that's an understatement).

Those teams, where I am under-utilised, are not fun to work with either. Lost of gossip and backstabbing and I work mostly with men. Go figure.

I am seriously considering leaving, but the money I make is more than I've ever made before, so I am reluctant. I am trying to prepare for a job change in my downtime though.

But in your situation, I definitely wouldn't leave.

I have this EXACT same problem. Also have a law degree! Sick of asking other people for work and being given the stuff that they don't want to do though. Following with interest.

Can you improve the systems where you work? Are processes efficient, are they documented, are the forms used clear and fit for purpose, do you have a document control system... etc. I work in quality and systems, so many companies lack a good management system and always say it’s due to lack of time. If your company might want to get ISO certification, you could take that on?

I am definitely wary of talking myself out of a job! Will be treading carefully.

@CaptSkippy something similar happened to me- an idea I suggested early on became a project which I am a part of, but someone else is heading up. Rather irritating, but I guess I was only a newby then. Glad to head you wouldn’t leave in my situation despite having experience of it yourself- leaving definitely isn’t what I want here.

@Alfiepup must be a law student thing!!!

@WhatYouGonnaDoKatie- funnily enough I used to manage ISO at my old job so could definitely do that, but I work for a massive company so they already have ISO in place, managed by another dept. Anything I volunteer for would have to be departmental.

I work for a massive company so they already have ISO in place, managed by another dept. Anything I volunteer for would have to be departmental.

If it is a massive company - is it the kind of company that has lots of networks like woman in [industry], charitable things, links with local communities?

If so can you get involved with those?

Can you up-skill yourself in something relevant to your job?

Like, if you work in finance there are lots of finance blogs and industry pieces to read. Or you can brush up on your modeling skills.

Can you contribute to any industry publications?

Can you get involved in recruitment in your company? You say it is big - do they have a grad scheme? Can you become an assessor for the grad scheme entry?

Do you have a central L&D department? If so you could see if you can get involved with any L&D stuff related to your area as a presenter/facilitator?

Is there any kind of industry (not company) 'thing' you can get involved with? Like if you are an accountant you could get involved with your local area ICAEW events and talks.

Basically relevent upskill + network internally and externally would be my goals.

Non work:
You could get super-up on all your life admin - research and book holidays, energy tariffs, insurance etc. Organise and book events with friends or family.
Read up on matched betting and make some extra cash.

Another thing I did when bored in a job was to go part time and run my own consultancy on the other days.