Work boredom

[NewMummy5July2011]

I?m going absolutely crazy at work ? I?m on a contract so unfortunately only a temporary worker due to being made redundant last year, but the job I?ve ended up at is SO boring that it?s driving me crazy. I

hardly have any work to do, (which should be seen is a plus, I know!) but the minutes and hours drag. It?s up in a few weeks, but they will probably renew me (although I have no idea why as I have no work on!) which means I can stay on as long as I want, just don?t know if I can bear it!

Is it horrible to hope that they don?t renew my contract so that the decision is made for me? It?s a killer commute and despite asking for more work, there is none to be had.

Any suggestions on what to do to pass the time during the day? I work in an office and have access to the internet, but don?t want to be seen ?surfing? all day!

Hi there, I am going through a similar thing myself at the moment so I thought I'd post.

I'm on a permanent contract, but our whole company has reshuffled so much lately that I've ended up temporarily surplus to requirements until they form some sort of new department. It means I literally have NOTHING to do all day - it's been going on since September and will go on til at least April.

As a seasoned 'time on my hands'er I may be in the (unfortunate) position to offer you some advice!:

*An obvious one, but plug any gaps you see or anything you see that can be done better or more efficiently, even if it's not part of your real role. I've ended up doing web development having no prior experience, just because the opportunity came up.

*Do as much training as you can, while you can

*Web surfing (mumsnet is a good one), but if that's not an option due to the arrangement of your office then you're stuffed on that one

*Language learning (via iPod) - I'm learning French

*improve skills at desk, since you're office-based. For example could you learn how to build databases in Microsoft Access, or learn Excel VBA programming? It'll look like you're working even though you're not (chances are most of your colleagues won't care what you're doing anyway...) and you'll be gaining skills for your next contract

*can you work at home? I'm lucky as I can

*reading/sewing/knitting/puzzles - again may be difficult to get away with this depending on your office

*if you're pg (which I assume you are as you're posting here) just relax in the knowledge that it's not forever and you'll soon have plenty to fill your time!

*fall asleep at your desk and blame pregnancy and killer commute

*go to the toilet a lot and play with your phone!!

It's very sad to have to go to these lengths I know, especially as it's not our fault that we're in this position, but what can we do about it really if they're wanting to keep us on and not giving us any work to do?

Sorry, forgot to add. It's a known fact that having NOTHING to do is a lot more stressful than having too much to do, so don't feel bad about how you are feeling.

Also I may sound very ... um... workshy in my post above but that's not the case at all. I'm actively looking for things to do, and my manager - such as he is (eyeroll) - knows that I'm in this position, along with my officemate, and just keeps telling us it will be sorted out by "[some vague timescale in the future]"

Hi - thanks for the advice - really helpful. I agree with you that having nothing to do has been quite stressful - much more so than having plenty to do. I'm someone that likes to be busy, so I find it really hard trying to find things to kill the time.

Since I am pregnant, it's even worse in a way because I've become SO aware of time passing, it feels like forever ago I found out (I'm 22 weeks).

Sounds like it's frustrating for you too - nice to know there is someone else out there in the same boat. I'll definitly take up some of your suggestions and if you think of anything else, any more ideas gratefully received!

Im in a similar boat, Im 28 weeks, usual work as a gardener for the council but I have had to come into the office due to pregnancy.
I have nothing to do often and even when they give me something to do I often finish way ahead of the time they have given me.
I am naughty and have been surfing the web alot, the office manager sits behind me kind of and could be looking over my shoulder all the time but I have come up with making the internet really small and trying to hide it with my head. Im often on mumsnet and surfing for baby bargins, but it does make me on edge and I make sure I have stuff that looks like work on my desk and make out im doing stuff like making up databases and fidling about with excell.
My days do drag but I have been taking one day off a week usually wednesday, Im using up my leave before I take maternity leave and it has been a god send, makes the week seam less boring and I cna get so much done.
I feel for you but its not for long, you'll soon be at home with your feet up. And remember they cant sack you because your pregnant so anything you can say is pregnancy related and stopping you from getting to work, use it. I do.

Thanks - since I earn by the hour though I don't get paid if I'm not here! I do earn holiday pay at an hourly rate, so every second week I take a day off which I've found helps alot - it's only every other week I'm in for a full 5 days.
I've started keeping my window tiny too so I can keep checking back on MN!!

Ah the old tiny window/using your head to hide it routine! I've been in that situation as well, but now I've got my back to the wall IYKWIM.

My officemate makes this big 'charade' to me of being really snowed under, when she isn't, and chats away to her boyfriend on Office Communicator (inter-company MSN), then minimises it if I go to make a cup of tea or something. I want to say to her "I DON'T CARE!" but it's become a sort of elephant in the room. Really I want to suggest to her that we lock the office door and both have a kip, but then she wouldn't be able to keep up her charade

So yeah Office Communicator is a good time-wasting tool if you have it in your company and have mates to chat to, but I don't use it because I basically hate everyone at my work!!