11 Ways To Kill Time At Work
Today I thought I would share with everyone some ways to kill time at work. Now I am not telling you to try these, and will not take responsibility if you are fired from your great job because you took my advice. But I will say, I have tried and tested all of these and just may use them at my own job to waste time, but SSHH…
So without further ado, I bring you my favorite 10 ways to kill time at work:
1. Sleep
Sleep is by far the best way to kill time at work. Besides, who doesn’t need to catch up on sleep. I hate the sound of the alarm clock going off in the morning. The only plus side to hearing it is that the faster I can drive to work, the sooner I can go to bed.
If you haven’t read my previous post, The Bathroom Stall Hammock, you better check it out. I created a great way to get hammock style sleep while in the workplace. The only catch is you have to sleep in a bathroom stall. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
2. Entrecard Dropping
For those of you who do not know what Entrecard is, it is basically a way to share your blog. The widget you see to the left, “Blog of the Day, is how Entrecard works. By visiting websites with the same widget, you can “drop” your card on their site. This earns you a credit, as well as draws other people to come to your site to drop theirs.
Dropping cards has become one of my best hobbies now while I sit at work. There is a limit of 300 a day, which I can usually manage to hit. I have a lot of bookmarks of great sites I have found and I usually return to those sites everyday and leave my card.
Entrecard also has some useful forums to read and participate it. I have learned a lot from the people that post in there. This another great way to gain some knowledge and still manage to kill time at work.
3. Write Blog Posts
I love blogging, and the majority of my posts are written while at work. Sometimes I only jot ideas down on paper, but it still makes it that much easier when I get home to type up my posts. I prefer to use a text editor program to right the post, and then e-mail the file to myself so I can post it for the following day when I get home from work.
If you are new to blogging, you could also use the spare time you have at work to research it. Besides, you would always say you are learning new things. No one can blame you for conducting some research.
4. Surf Facebook using the Flock Browser
Surfing Facebook used to be the number one thing for me at work. Then I realized it wasn’t very constructive. Nonetheless, I still do it when I can because I would rather spend my time at work doing is vs. the time I have at home.
If you have not heard of the new web browser, Flock, I strongly suggest trying it out. It is built on Mozilla Firefox but has tons of built in features for social networking. The best thing about it is the sidebar that allows you to stay logged in to different networks such as Facebook and Twitter. You can then surf the internet like usual and see your friends updates whenever they make changes.
Flock also has a lot of useful tools for subscribing to RSS feeds, such as my own. If you are interested in downloading Flock for free, you can download it here. Feel free to let me know what you think of it.
5. Read E-books
If you are like me, I enjoy reading books whenever I can find time. However, it is sometimes hard to sit at your desk at work with a book in front of you and not get caught. Say hello to electronic books. Simply load up a USB flash drives of books and bring them with you wherever you go. Best of all, you can bring it to work and open up your Ebooks with Adobe Reader, which luckily is installed on most office computers.
If you get caught, you could always argue that the books will make you a better employee and you are learning a lot about your position. If they still get mad at you, then I guess it is time to move on to a new job. Or start doing actual work at your current one, ha ha.
6. Catching Up on Bills
Tired of trying to keep up with all of your monthly statements on-line. Why not use some time at work to get all caught up. This has worked very well for me because it seems like no matter how hard I plan time outside of work to take care of bills, I stilled get sidetracked. So I now have an Outlook calendar event with some time alloted to just sorting out on-line bills. Of course I wouldn’t name it that in your calendar, try something like “Meeting with HR” instead.
7. Solitaire
This is a classic when it comes to wasting away time at work. This was first made popular when it came pre-installed on Microsoft Windows. However, some system administrators have gotten smart and tend to remove it from the programs list in the start menu. But don’t worry, some of them only remove the “shortcut” from the menu and not that actual program itself. Try hitting the Windows Key + R, then typing sol.exe and hitting enter. You just might be able to get around it.
8. Planning Out the Weekend
I spend a lot of Thursdays and Fridays planning out my weekends at work. Researching events, ticket prices, and anything else I can find to do. That way when 5 o’clock comes around on Friday, I know exactly what I am doing for the next two days. Besides, weekends are too short the way they are, so I need make sure I spend all 48 hours of them doing exactly what I want. Monday’s just come around too fast.
9. Surfing YouTube (if Allowed)
Depending on how your computers are setup at work, YouTube can be another time killer. Once you get on there, it is hard to stop. Which is perfect because the next thing you know, two hours have gone by. I have actually stayed late on occasion on accident because time flew by so fast it was past five the next time I looked at the clock.
Just don’t get caught, the boss probably doesn’t like it when employees sit around and watch videos. But I am willing to bet, he/she does it all the time.
10. Mingle with Coworkers about Non-Work Related Topics
I have found that talking amongst coworkers is a great way to get to know them. Especially when you ditch the work talk and start talking about other things like family, fun, vacations, and whatever else you can think of.
When I first started my office job, I was always afraid to talk to other workers unless it was work related. Not anymore, now I try to talk about anything. Especially when new employees are hired. I like to be the first to meet them.
11. Disappear
From time to time, I just cannot take sitting at a computer anymore. Sure, the internet is a great way to make time go by, but sometimes you just get “interneted out”. I’m thinking that probably wasn’t a real word but you get the point.
So I what I like to do is leave my desk and just see where I end up. Sometimes I go to a different floor and just roam around like I belong there. Other times, I take a short walk outside to get some fresh air. My favorite however, is walking to my car and catching some sleep in the back seat. No, I am not worried about getting caught because I am smarter than that. That’s why I forward my phone to my cell, and set my iPhone to vibrate whenever I get a new E-mail. Sometimes I respond and the people do not even know I am in my car. They think I am sitting at my desk like a “normal” employee.
So there you have it, my favorite ways to make those 9 hours fly by everyday. I would love to hear any suggestions from others about killing time at work.
***
Feel free to leave some comments, unless of course you are my boss. In that case, I am probably fired…oh well.
Published on March 11th, 2008. And don't forget to check out my book, Life After the Cubicle.
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Good Blog. I will continue reading it in the future. Nice layout too.
Aaron Wakling
im going to disapear soon ^.^
Thanks for the feedback. I have been working on the layout and hope it is very easy to use for everyone.
Justin: Great post; you’ve obviously contemplated your subject in minute detail. All I can say is I’m glad you don’t work for me!
Thanks for the comment about my blog. Feel free to visit any time.
BTW, I also saw your piece about the bathroom hammock. You’re right on the money there — why should that little-used space go to waste?
Haha, I’m guilty of the majority of those. Don’t tell anyone, though!
i agree with most of your comments especially the one about talking to your colleagues about non-work related topics!I cant go in my car and sleep like you as I would get caught as i work in small business!keep up the hood work!
I’m guilty of 4 – 11 inclusive…for 7 – I play tic tac toe…perhaps I should try to work a little harder…ah…maybe not.
Hmm, seems like I’ve been doing most of the stuff on that list for years now haha. I learned to multi-task when I was still doing tech support. Ah, solitaire. For such a simple game it really takes a lot of your time ^_^
Kats latest blog post..Google Reader
Fun article… thanks for sharing.
I can think of one even better way to kill time at work: start a business!!!
Tom
This was too funny… i just googled “kill time at work” and came across this.. best of all i got my solitaire. haha thanks!
Okay this an extremely well put together blog. I too was just typing in “ways to kill time at work” and ran across this. Gotta love Google for knowing exactly what to give to it’s searchers. lol
I will be subscribing to this blog for sure. I look forward to more posts like this. I think ihave done just about all of these onthe list. I was laughing at quite a few because i knew i was guilty of them.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog!
Hey. I am doomed to an eternity of compulsive work. No set goal achieved satisfies. Success only breeds a new goal. The golden apple devoured has seeds. It is endless.
I am from Serbia and now teach English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: “Com for discount airfare and lowest prices airline tickets.”
Waiting for a reply
, Stuart.
Great Blog!!
But just for curiosity. Where the hell do you work at?????
Hey i must say your article in simple words is just fantastic.
Googled “killing time at work” and found this post. Going to kill some now by writing a reply.
Killing time is a daily struggle for me. I’d much rather work but apparently no one has work for me and they don’t seem to care. I can’t complain. I know I should be grateful to have a job let alone one where I get paid to watch a clock.
1. Sleeping is not much of an option for me. My desk is in a high traffic area. In a desperate attempt to pass time, I tried sleeping in the bathroom. I couldn’t handle it. Let’s just say the sounds and smells from the neighboring stalls were disturbing. These dudes should see a doctor or something.
3. I might try this if I can find something to blog about.
4. Facebook isn’t an option because I work at a government building where half the internet seems to be blocked and I hate messing with proxies.
5. I did read E-books for a while to add to my programming skills. But there’s only so much reading a person can do.
7. No solitaire on these computers. I suppose I could download it or other games, but so many people walk by I’d either get caught or have to Alt+Tab every 15 seconds.
9. No Youtube allowed here and I’d get caught if it was.
10. I mingled and joked around at my old job but that’s not much of an option here. I have nothing in common with any of my co-workers and genuinely dislike a number of them. Plus, they’re much older than me. If I took blood pressure medicine or had grandkids, than I might be able to join in on the convos.
11. This is what I do best. I usually head to the floor with the snack machines and tables. I can usually sit in there with absolutely no one coming by after 3 PM. I eventually get tired of sitting there or get paranoid that someone will notice I’ve been gone. Other days I’ll take a walk but my boss is smoker and I’m afraid he’ll be downstairs and see me walking back in.
Great post! Thanks for giving me a chance to kill a few minutes…only 35 more to go!
Good ones! Unfortunately, however, I’m in a temporary job where I am literally paid to just read stuff and pretend to work. And internet usage and myself are closely monitored. I’m taking a risk now even typing this comment. Sigh….
Hey man you’ve got a nice blog here packed full of great content. Keep it up.
I’m like Shane – I love being busy at work, but when you’re bored, you’re bored. I like shopping online. I have gained an extensive knowledge of local real estate values and interest rates while searching for a new property. After finding one I like, I found the best place to order the appliances I need for it! I’ve printed off Sudoku’s (so I can look like I’m doing paperwork) and done them at my desk – just make sure to be at that printer before anyone else! Also, if you’re not sure what to make for supper, there are tons of website full of great recipe ideas! What did people do before the internet??
Oh yeah – I also keep my eye on the local job market…while I’m at work.
VoW! nice post… keep it up…
Sometimes it gets so boring that i end up staring at void. And guess wat i love it. Just stare at void and stop your brain from processing any thoughts…
I Like That What You Said Made Me Laugh
Thank you for the solitaire tip!!!!
Dropping my card
What about fantasy football and online games? My friend and I developed a way to kill a few minutes here and there playing an online football strategy game, kind of like fantasy football but more “game-like”. You can take a turn whenever you have a spare minute. Check it out at http://www.ffthrowdown.com and let us know what you think.
Great ideas
)
I have tried most of these years ago and got a bit bored by now but I have found something new
) now i am a master of office jokes 
)
last one? A new printer arived so i have put a note on it that “Please operate this equipment using your voice”
And i couldnt stop laughing
The other way to efficiently waste time at work for me is to simply tell your boss that you are having a phone conference and go to the nearest meeting room, call your friend and pretend you are making notes – works every time!
)
All the best!
haha
Nice your ideas!
point (3), 5 and 10 are great, because the time isn’t really wasted.
I’ll try Entrecard Dropping
never heard about this…
i also found it trough google
Hilarious, couldn’t stop laughing!
Keep up the great blogs!
And there’s another 15 minutes gone. Thanks, Justin!