Employment Spot

Fun Things to Do at Work

Bored at Work? Look No Further.

Most all of us have experienced a case of the Mondays or had “just one of those days” where it seemed like the hands of the clock couldn’t possibly move any slower.  Even for those of us who truly love our jobs, there will always be a time when you are just plain old bored.  If you are bored on the job, here are some fun things to do at work to help pass the time.

• Listen to music on an MP3 player (using headphones, of course)
• Take the scenic route when walking to the copy machine or restroom
• Redecorate your cubicle or office – a change of scenery may be refreshing
• Entice co-workers to come chat with you by placing a candy jar on your desk
• Clean out your e-mail inbox – while not the most exciting, at least it’s a change of pace and it might give you a fresh start
• Make yourself feel better by reading about other people who are even more bored at work than you are at DisgruntledWorkforce.com
• Exercise your creative mind and brainstorm – Where will you take your next vacation?  Or even better, what would you do to improve your company’s product or customer satisfaction? Your boss may appreciate some new insight (and this may even lead to consideration for a future promotion).
• Change your computer’s screensaver to a picture slideshow of your family or your favorite vacation spots
• Tackle the New York Times crossword puzzle online or watch some YouTube videos during a few spare minutes before a meeting or phone call
• Make the most of your breaks.  Rather than watching television in the lunchroom or surfing the web, take a walk or eat lunch outside for some fresh air
• If it’s a rainy day, try reading for pleasure or catching up on the news after you finish your lunch
• Sign up for a lunchtime yoga or fitness class nearby
• Take more frequent, shorter breaks instead of one long break in the middle of the day – this divides up your time and gives you something to look forward to

While these may not be as exciting as pulling practical jokes on your co-workers, if you try some of these ideas you may find that it’s fairly easy to solve the problem of being bored at work.

But what if you are still counting down the minutes (or hours) until five o’clock rolls around?  Maybe the issue is a bit larger, calling for a solution with a little more impact than headphones and an MP3 player.  You may need to ask yourself, “Why am I bored at work?”  Perhaps you don’t have enough work to do or your workload is not challenging enough.  This would be a perfect opportunity to approach your boss.  Ask him or her if there are any new projects you could work on.  Not only will this alleviate your boredom, but your boss will be impressed that you are taking the initiative.  If you are nervous about talking to your boss, take a look at The Boss and You and you will realize that he or she is not as scary as you think!

If this boredom at work still persists, maybe it’s time to find a new job.  If your current job doesn’t interest you, there are plenty of others out there that could.  It never hurts to explore your options because you never know what you may discover.  Check out What Career Is Right For Me? to get started.  If you are having trouble knowing where to start, consider looking at jobs in the fastest-growing occupations for 2008-2009 – there is probably a reason they are becoming so popular.  Here are just a few of these jobs, as provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Data Communications
• Home Health Aide / Personal Care Aide
• Computer Engineer
• Medical Assistant
• Financial Analyst
• Dental Hygienist/Assistant

If you are considering completely starting over in a new industry, take a look at these Entry-Level Jobs for a fresh start.  Or, maybe all you really want is a Fun Job.  Whether it is engaging in some fun things to do at work, taking on a new project or searching for a new job all together, you are bound to find a solution for being bored at work.