This post is from our regular contributor, Kristi.
It’s funny how some days at work you feel absolutely slammed with projects, and others you feel left with nothing to do but twiddle your thumbs.
Considering that most people spend 30% of their day at work, that’s a lot of time to kill when you’re bored and out of work to do.
So you have two choices. You can continue to spend 30% of your life twiddling your thumbs, or you can figure out ways to keep yourself busy and budget your time effectively.
There are no givens in life, so use your down time at work as productive time for your job, yourself, and your future.
Use these 10 ways to stay busy (and sane) when you’re bored at work.
1) Write a to-do list
To do list:
- start a to do list (see! You’re feeling productive already)
I know what you’re thinking…”A to do list? I have nothing to do. That’s why I’m reading this in the first place.” Bear with me though.
When you’re looking for something to do, actually sitting and writing out a list of potential projects can make you realize just how much you really could be doing. Some days I will sit down with the illusion of boredom only to feel stressed about 15 minutes later, when I have somehow managed to create a to do list a mile long.
2) Update your calendar
Once you have an updated to do list, start filling in your calendar with the due by dates. Savvy Spreadsheets has a great and easy to use organizational calendar that you can download for free.
Planning out your whole month of work will keep you busy today and help you stay on top of your work in the upcoming weeks.
3) Work Ahead
When you’re suddenly looking at all of the projects that are due to be completed in the next few weeks or months, it can help you stay busy in the present. Especially if you anticipate a big increase in your workload, use your down time now to get prepared for upcoming projects.
Start research or follow new leads. Send out reminder emails to your coworkers. Gather together or create any new documents that you will need. If you do decide to start actual work, not just preparation work, on a new project, make sure that you aren’t putting stress on your coworkers to keep up with an unnecessarily speedy timeline.
4) Organize the office
Take advantage of your down time to get some basic office organization done. Unless you’re a genius, or like Einstein, and believe that an organized workspace will hamper your creativity, use your free day to clean out your desk drawers, organize file folders, and shred obsolete paperwork. Your work will most likely pick back up again in full force, and you’ll get to enjoy accomplishing your tasks in a clean and organized work space.
If you finish cleaning and organizing your own personal space, offer to organize the office supply closet, the mail room. Your effort most likely will not go unnoticed.
5) Sort through emails
If your email account looks anything like mine, it is inundated with Spam and old and irrelevant correspondence. Create file folders in your account to completely sort out your emails. Only keep those emails that are absolutely necessary, and delete the ones that are just cluttering up your inbox.
6) Use social media
Offer to spruce up the company’s social media pages. If your place of business isn’t even on social media, offer to start a Facebook or twitter page for the company.
Highlight the benefits of an internet presence to your boss, especially if you work for a small business. Show them that you are able and willing to use your social media management skills for the benefit of the company, and you’ll get paid to be on Facebook at work.
If you still have ample time to fill, update (or create) your LinkedIn profile. Add new contacts, update your resume, and upload a current image to keep your personal profile fresh and relevant.
7) Personal development
Personal development isn’t something you should skimp on. It’s important to constantly learn new things, challenge yourself, and set new goals. Enroll in a Udemy course that you can complete from your desk. Learn a new skill that will make you eligible for a promotion at work or beef up your resume.
8) Engage with co-workers
It’s not just about socialization. Relationship building is important in the work place. Ask if your coworkers would like a hand to finish a project. Offer to scan some documents, make copies, or run an inter-office errand. Helping out a co-worker now will mean that they’ll likely return the favor when you’re swamped in the future.
9) Ask for more work
People with more responsibilities get paid more money. If you want your boss to see that you can be trusted with more responsibilities, prove your worth to them by voluntarily taking on more work than you necessarily have to.
If your work is slow, ask them what projects they have that you could work on. Show them that you are able to handle the responsibility now, and they will turn to you to head new projects or promotions in the future. An added benefit of asking for more work is that your boss will know and understand why you’re sitting “unproductively” at your desk, if they had no new work to give to you.
If they do have extra work for you use it to your advantage, but make sure not to tread the fine line and not become the office pushover.
10) Look busy
Sometimes there really is nothing to do. Your desk is organized, your files are sorted, email is pristine and at inbox zero. So what to do now? Try to look busy, so that you’re not just at your desk twiddling your thumbs. Bring a book or download an eBook that you can read when you’re completely out of things to do. Subscribe to an online magazine and read the latest research for your niche of work.
Use your time at work as productively as possible by taking advantage of the down time. Learn a new skill, stay organized, and become well-prepared for future projects. Once you have exhausted every hope of finding new work to do, just accept that the universe has given you some stress-free, you time, and enjoy it.
How do you stay busy when you’re bored at work?
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It’s rare that I have the chance to be bored at work, but we did have a string of no shows recently so I used that time to have the techs show me how to use some of the equipment I don’t normally use. That makes it easier if one of them calls in sick. Cross training makes employees more valuable under the right circumstances.
Bored at work? I have never heard of the concept! ;-)
I think 9. ask for more work is the best approach. It doesn’t even have to be phrased that way. You could ask your manager if the “need any help” that way you aren’t blatantly disclosing you are sitting there with nothing to do. Your manager most likely has a lot of stuff on their to-do list so your offer will likely be well received. It should be a win-win.
I just pull a Costanza and always act annoyed/busy :)
I’ve never once had an office job where I was bored, lol! Quick the opposite actually. But I was a Project Manager for most of my time working in offices, and it’s by nature a very stressful and deadline driven career path. I do know a lot of people that have downtime while at work though, and this is a great list of ways to be productive and make the most of that time!
Although I’m never bored at my job I do become distracted. I use most of the tips used above to keep me on track and very productive.
Eyesonthedollar Absolutely, that’s a great use of your down time to stay productive.
PFUtopia I agree! There will likely always be someone who would appreciate the help.
ferventfinance Ha! Hilarious
Christina@EmbracingSimple Project managers do tend to stay really busy!
LovetteMacc I’m easily distracted as well. It’s great to have ways to stay busy and get back on track.
Cool post here Kristi! Agree & can resonate that sometimes yep we’re slammed and others it’s a bit quieter..
I really enjoy learning, checking out blogs etc, I may listen to a podcast or 2 as well ;)
I oversee a staff of close to 30 at my 9-5 and there are only a select few employees that request additional projects or work. I can tell you as a Manager that it goes a long way to see someone with ambition being proactive in identifying new work.
I always have work to do, but sometimes need to take a break. Those times are pefect for side hustling, either working on my blog or clicking on things on my phone to earn a couple extra bucks. We are trying to pay off debt and acheive financial semi-independence, so there is no time to waste and every little bit counts. I try to always be productive, even if I need to switch gears for a few minutes.
Financial Tour Guide That’s a pretty huge staff – I hope not all direct reports!
mycareercrusade Podcasts and blogs are a great way to learn from your peers during your downtime. Great use of time!
Financial Tour Guide Going above and beyond with your tasks at work is one of the best ways to get noticed as a valuable employee.
Harmony@CreatingMyKaleidoscope I understand the need to switch gears. Focusing on only one task makes it difficult to concentrate. Sometimes, to be more productive, I have to work on something else for a while and come back to it.
I have a #11 to add to the list. That would be to work on your side hustle or your blog during your down time. I’ve found out that it has helped me a lot. I’ve even been able to crank out a few post while I’m at work.
I don’t know many jobs where it’d be acceptable to play on your phone or work a side hustle during work hours as many are saying in comments. Maybe it’s because I come from an HR background…but your employer likely won’t be too happy to pay you to work on other personal gigs or play on your phone. I recommend asking your supervisor if there are additional projects you can do. Definitely shows initiative.
Terrific ideas Kristi. In my industry, there is a definite busy season and a corresponding off season. As such, I’ve used several of these ideas in conjunction. I’ve also written macros to automate some reporting processes, but that actually makes things run even more efficiently, freeing up more time down the road. But still, it can be fun. So you could add “Teach yourself a new skill” to the list…:) Enjoyed the post!
I use some of my down time at work to work on my side projects. I try to think of my time at work as “my time” not my company’s time. That mindset gives me more ownership and control over my calendar. Even with taking time to work on side projects, there is more than enough time in the day to get everything for work done. I’ve found, too, that by having less time to do “work” I am more productive. Which helps justify spending time on side projects.