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30 Things to Do to Keep From Getting Bored Out of Your Skull at Work

The war between being and nothingness is the underlying illness of the twentieth century. Boredom slays more of existence than war. - Norman Mailer

I’m not one to get bored, ever … but a number of readers have written in with the question: What do I do if I’m bored out of my skull at work?

It gave me pause, to think about why I can’t recall ever getting that bored at work. And I realized: I always keep myself busy, doing something, whether it’s productive or not.

Sometimes, I’m creating a new project, or improving myself somehow … but sometimes I just find interesting stuff to read online or find a cool solitaire game to play. (Well, I haven’t played any games in awhile, but Freecell used to be my poison of choice a few years ago.)

So the short answer: just find things to entertain yourself. Keep your mind busy. Challenge yourself. Talk to somebody. Break out of your mold.

The longer answer has to do with analyzing why you’re bored in the first place. Is your job that boring? Are you really doing what you want to be doing? Is there a way to start pursuing something better? Or are you already in a great job, but something or someone is holding you back? And what can you do to improve the situation?

I’m not going to pursue the longer answer in this post, but give you some ideas for the shorter answer. It’s not an exhaustive list of ideas. Just some things I’ve done to keep my mind busy — pick and choose those that might work for you.

Create a new challenge. I think this is by far the best thing on the list, but you may differ. Many times we’re bored because we don’t have a challenge — things are too easy or routine. So instead of waiting for someone to create a challenge for you, do it yourself. How can you challenge yourself? Set a new goal at work. Challenge yourself to produce more than ever. Explore new projects. Set personal goals and pursue them. Whatever excites you.
Pursue your next job. If your job is so boring you don’t know what to do with yourself, you may need to move on. But instead of quitting right away, start lining up your next gig first. Look around for openings, call people, update your resume and submit it to a few places, pick up a few applications, send out some email feelers. Find something that will never get you bored, something you’ll be passionate about.
List your life goals. What is it you want to accomplish in life? Not just with work, but personally? If you’ve listed them before, it’s always good to update them. Then choose one of those goals to achieve this year. Now think about what you can do today to move closer to that goal, even if it’s just a small thing. Get the ball rolling. Do this every day — move yourself closer to that goal.
Read Zen Habits. Or whatever your favorite distraction is. If it’s something that will improve your life, even better. Just limit how long you read at one time, so you’re not reading through the Zen Habits archives in one sitting.
Declutter your workspace. If I’ve got nothing better to do, I’ll clear off my desk (if there’s anything there), or start looking around critically at everything in view and asking myself, “Does that really need to be there? How can I simplify this?” Weird, I know, but I have an oddly uncluttered workspace. Right now my desk is a table, my iMac, an nothing else. No files, no papers, no office supplies, nothing. Everything is done on my computer, and I love it that way. Nothing on my walls. You may not need anything as spartan as that, but decluttering can be a lot of fun.
Pursue a hobby. My hobby (until it became a profession) was blogging … I would do it at work in my spare time, or before or after work. Not everyone can pursue their hobby at work — the model airplane glue might bother your coworkers, for example — but sometimes you can just read about it while at work. I was upfront about my blogging and freelancing at work with my boss, btw, but many people get away with doing it on the sly. I won’t make a recommendation, but just don’t get fired.
Make your work a game. You can make a game out of anything. See how many widgets you can crank in 10 minutes. Pretend that your coworkers are evil villains. Imagine that you are a CIA agent in disguise, and no one knows. Or a fairy princess. Whatever floats your boat. :)
Educate yourself. On Guam, this is called “edumacation” — it’s not a real word, but we like to play with English. Whatever you call it, you can improve your knowledge online in any area — whether that be work-related or not. Be your own college instructor. Wikipedia is a great place to start, but if you’re going to have a specialized knowledge in anything, branch out from there.
Improve your skills. Along the same lines: choose a skill that needs sharpening, and challenge yourself to get better at it. Whether that’s computer programming, writing, working with Adobe InDesign, or whatever. Perfect your skills — you can use it to further your career, get a new job, or become self-employed. Or just have the satisfaction of knowing you’re the best you can be at that skill.
Play Sudoku. Perhaps not the most intellectual game of all time, or the most exciting … but I still find it a lot of fun. I only played it a little while and didn’t get addicted like other people I know, but I have to admit it’s a fun way to pass the time.
Choose a soothing desktop picture. I like to do this when I’m procrastinating. I will go online, to flickr or some desktop wallpaper website and browse around until I find a very simple, soothing picture. I do this maybe every month or so. In fact, I’m going to go do that right now!

Do some pushups and crunches. If you’re bored, you might as well start getting in shape. You can do pushups and crunches right there on the floor next to your desk (or go outside if you’re worried about your coworkers seeing you). Or walk up some steps, or do squats and lunges without weights, or dips in your chair, or butt squeezes (that means squeeze your own butt, not your coworkers’).
Take a day or two off. Sometimes you just need to refresh yourself, recharge your batteries before starting again. Don’t do any work while you’re out. Veg out, or read, or sleep, or exercise, or whatever. Get your mind off work. Think about your priorities. Get out in nature. Reconnect with your life.
Take a walk. Often this is all I need, especially if I’ve been sitting all day and my blood is pooling up in my butt and legs. I need to get that blood circulating! Go outside, walk around, look at people, look at nature, think about your day and your life and the people in it.
Drink some water. Dehydration can make us tired and sluggish. Water can refresh us. Keep that water coming all day long — you may need to pee more though.
Call a loved one. What better time to call someone to catch up, to tell them you love them, to just say hi … than when you’ve got nothing better to do. It’s a nice way to stay connected.
Read. I like to carry a novel everywhere I go. Then I whip it out anytime I have spare time, waiting at the doctor’s office, in line at the post office, driving in the Indy 500 … you know. If not a novel, carry around a “to read” folder with stuff you want or need to read but don’t have time for right now … then whip it out at your desk when you’re bored. You could have a “to read” folder on your computer too.
Start writing your novel. Many of us have a novel that’s tossing itself around in our heads and hearts, waiting to come out. Well, start getting it out, mister. Just start by writing some notes, thinking about characters and plot and what the hell this book is about anyway. It’s not going to come out by itself.
Take a nap. If you don’t have a good place to do this, you can curl up under your desk with a sweater, or go to your car and sleep. I’ve learned how to fall asleep at my chair, but thank goodness I’m working at home and can go to the couch in a napping emergency.
Create a new project or role. If things are stagnating at work, start something new. Create and innovate. What can you do that has a lasting impact for your company and for yourself, for your career? If you’re stuck in a dead-end role, create a new role for yourself. It doesn’t matter if it’s not in the job description. Find something that’s not being done by someone else, something that needs to be done or that hasn’t been thought of yet, but that would really benefit the company — and take it upon yourself to do it. You might need to talk to your boss, but sometimes you can just start doing something and inform the higher-ups later. If it’s good for the company, and if they’re smart, they’ll be happy.
Write a love letter. If you have a significant other, write a letter telling them why you love them. They’ll love it. Email is fine, but pen and paper are even better.
Do one small thing to make yourself wealthier. That might be creating a savings account if you don’t have one yet, or setting up an automatic transfer between checking and savings every payday, or researching a money market fund or index fund, or simply reading Get Rich Slowly or The Simple Dollar for personal finance basics.
Write a blog post. This is something I love to do when things get slow. I’ll just call up a text file and start writing. I love lists, of course (you guys should know that by now), so often I’ll just start making a list, and writing down my thoughts. If things are really slow, I’ll do the whole blog post. I can always post it later if necessary. Make sure you love what you’re writing about.
Do an errand. This can either be in the office (”Where’s that ink cartridge I’ve been needing all week?”) or outside the office (”I really should buy toilet paper today!”). It gets you moving, it gets you away from the scene of your boredom, and it accomplishes something useful.
Update your personal finances. I used to track my finances through Microsoft Money, but I’ve since switched to using a Google spreadsheet, so that it’s online and accessible from anywhere. I considered other online solutions, but personally, I like to keep things as simple as possible. However you do it, it’s a good idea to update your financial tracking system once a week or so, so that you know where you stand and you don’t overspend. Got some spare time? Update.
Meditate at your desk. Some people would say this is just a fancy term for taking a nap. But for me the key is not to fall asleep, but to close my eyes and focus on my breathing. Nothing new-agey about this — it brings your focus back to the present and calms you. Sometimes it’ll calm you so much you’ll fall asleep. I say, two birds, one stone.
Organize your files. OK, this might seem boring to many people, but I like to organize things. I get a perverse satisfaction from purging useless stuff and having everything be smaller, neater, and in order. And it doesn’t take long.
Clear out your inbox. I get joy out of an empty inbox, whether that’s my email inbox or physical one. Crank through it until it’s empty — you don’t have to do everything in the inbox, but just make a note of it on your to-do list if you plan to do it later (or delete, file, forward, or do it now). Got a thousand or two emails in your inbox? Put them in a temporary folder and do them later, starting with a fresh inbox. Chances are, you won’t need to do them at all. Now just keep your inbox empty from here on out.
Crank up the tunes. Some funky or upbeat tunes might just do the trick. They can make any job much more fun. Either play it on your speakers if your coworkers don’t mind, or plug in the earbuds. Currently on my playlist: Radiohead, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jack Johnson, Snow Patrol … I could go on and on.
Get wild! Sometimes we just need to let loose. Start singing at the top of your lungs, or dance around the office. Sure, people might stare or laugh, but a little fun in the office isn’t a bad thing. Or get out of the office and do something fun or crazy. One afternoon of wildity isn’t going to hurt you (well, stay away from things that are illegal or life-threatening, if possible).

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. - Dorothy Parker

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us or on Digg. I’d appreciate it. :)

30 Things to Do to Keep From Getting Bored Out of Your Skull at Work

The war between being and nothingness is the underlying illness of the twentieth century. Boredom slays more of existence than war. - Norman Mailer

I’m not one to get bored, ever … but a number of readers have written in with the question: What do I do if I’m bored out of my skull at work?

It gave me pause, to think about why I can’t recall ever getting that bored at work. And I realized: I always keep myself busy, doing something, whether it’s productive or not.

So the short answer: just find things to entertain yourself. Keep your mind busy. Challenge yourself. Talk to somebody. Break out of your mold.

Create a new challenge. I think this is by far the best thing on the list, but you may differ. Many times we’re bored because we don’t have a challenge — things are too easy or routine. So instead of waiting for someone to create a challenge for you, do it yourself. How can you challenge yourself? Set a new goal at work. Challenge yourself to produce more than ever. Explore new projects. Set personal goals and pursue them. Whatever excites you.
Pursue your next job. If your job is so boring you don’t know what to do with yourself, you may need to move on. But instead of quitting right away, start lining up your next gig first. Look around for openings, call people, update your resume and submit it to a few places, pick up a few applications, send out some email feelers. Find something that will never get you bored, something you’ll be passionate about.
List your life goals. What is it you want to accomplish in life? Not just with work, but personally? If you’ve listed them before, it’s always good to update them. Then choose one of those goals to achieve this year. Now think about what you can do today to move closer to that goal, even if it’s just a small thing. Get the ball rolling. Do this every day — move yourself closer to that goal.
Read Zen Habits. Or whatever your favorite distraction is. If it’s something that will improve your life, even better. Just limit how long you read at one time, so you’re not reading through the Zen Habits archives in one sitting.
Declutter your workspace. If I’ve got nothing better to do, I’ll clear off my desk (if there’s anything there), or start looking around critically at everything in view and asking myself, “Does that really need to be there? How can I simplify this?” Weird, I know, but I have an oddly uncluttered workspace. Right now my desk is a table, my iMac, an nothing else. No files, no papers, no office supplies, nothing. Everything is done on my computer, and I love it that way. Nothing on my walls. You may not need anything as spartan as that, but decluttering can be a lot of fun.
Pursue a hobby. My hobby (until it became a profession) was blogging … I would do it at work in my spare time, or before or after work. Not everyone can pursue their hobby at work — the model airplane glue might bother your coworkers, for example — but sometimes you can just read about it while at work. I was upfront about my blogging and freelancing at work with my boss, btw, but many people get away with doing it on the sly. I won’t make a recommendation, but just don’t get fired.
Make your work a game. You can make a game out of anything. See how many widgets you can crank in 10 minutes. Pretend that your coworkers are evil villains. Imagine that you are a CIA agent in disguise, and no one knows. Or a fairy princess. Whatever floats your boat. :)
Educate yourself. On Guam, this is called “edumacation” — it’s not a real word, but we like to play with English. Whatever you call it, you can improve your knowledge online in any area — whether that be work-related or not. Be your own college instructor. Wikipedia is a great place to start, but if you’re going to have a specialized knowledge in anything, branch out from there.
Improve your skills. Along the same lines: choose a skill that needs sharpening, and challenge yourself to get better at it. Whether that’s computer programming, writing, working with Adobe InDesign, or whatever. Perfect your skills — you can use it to further your career, get a new job, or become self-employed. Or just have the satisfaction of knowing you’re the best you can be at that skill.
Play Sudoku. Perhaps not the most intellectual game of all time, or the most exciting … but I still find it a lot of fun. I only played it a little while and didn’t get addicted like other people I know, but I have to admit it’s a fun way to pass the time.
Choose a soothing desktop picture. I like to do this when I’m procrastinating. I will go online, to flickr or some desktop wallpaper website and browse around until I find a very simple, soothing picture. I do this maybe every month or so. In fact, I’m going to go do that right now!

Do some pushups and crunches. If you’re bored, you might as well start getting in shape. You can do pushups and crunches right there on the floor next to your desk (or go outside if you’re worried about your coworkers seeing you). Or walk up some steps, or do squats and lunges without weights, or dips in your chair, or butt squeezes (that means squeeze your own butt, not your coworkers’).
Take a day or two off. Sometimes you just need to refresh yourself, recharge your batteries before starting again. Don’t do any work while you’re out. Veg out, or read, or sleep, or exercise, or whatever. Get your mind off work. Think about your priorities. Get out in nature. Reconnect with your life.
Take a walk. Often this is all I need, especially if I’ve been sitting all day and my blood is pooling up in my butt and legs. I need to get that blood circulating! Go outside, walk around, look at people, look at nature, think about your day and your life and the people in it.
Drink some water. Dehydration can make us tired and sluggish. Water can refresh us. Keep that water coming all day long — you may need to pee more though.
Call a loved one. What better time to call someone to catch up, to tell them you love them, to just say hi … than when you’ve got nothing better to do. It’s a nice way to stay connected.
Read. I like to carry a novel everywhere I go. Then I whip it out anytime I have spare time, waiting at the doctor’s office, in line at the post office, driving in the Indy 500 … you know. If not a novel, carry around a “to read” folder with stuff you want or need to read but don’t have time for right now … then whip it out at your desk when you’re bored. You could have a “to read” folder on your computer too.
Start writing your novel. Many of us have a novel that’s tossing itself around in our heads and hearts, waiting to come out. Well, start getting it out, mister. Just start by writing some notes, thinking about characters and plot and what the hell this book is about anyway. It’s not going to come out by itself.
Take a nap. If you don’t have a good place to do this, you can curl up under your desk with a sweater, or go to your car and sleep. I’ve learned how to fall asleep at my chair, but thank goodness I’m working at home and can go to the couch in a napping emergency.
Create a new project or role. If things are stagnating at work, start something new. Create and innovate. What can you do that has a lasting impact for your company and for yourself, for your career? If you’re stuck in a dead-end role, create a new role for yourself. It doesn’t matter if it’s not in the job description. Find something that’s not being done by someone else, something that needs to be done or that hasn’t been thought of yet, but that would really benefit the company — and take it upon yourself to do it. You might need to talk to your boss, but sometimes you can just start doing something and inform the higher-ups later. If it’s good for the company, and if they’re smart, they’ll be happy.
Write a love letter. If you have a significant other, write a letter telling them why you love them. They’ll love it. Email is fine, but pen and paper are even better.
Do one small thing to make yourself wealthier. That might be creating a savings account if you don’t have one yet, or setting up an automatic transfer between checking and savings every payday, or researching a money market fund or index fund, or simply reading Get Rich Slowly or The Simple Dollar for personal finance basics.
Write a blog post. This is something I love to do when things get slow. I’ll just call up a text file and start writing. I love lists, of course (you guys should know that by now), so often I’ll just start making a list, and writing down my thoughts. If things are really slow, I’ll do the whole blog post. I can always post it later if necessary. Make sure you love what you’re writing about.
Do an errand. This can either be in the office (”Where’s that ink cartridge I’ve been needing all week?”) or outside the office (”I really should buy toilet paper today!”). It gets you moving, it gets you away from the scene of your boredom, and it accomplishes something useful.
Update your personal finances. I used to track my finances through Microsoft Money, but I’ve since switched to using a Google spreadsheet, so that it’s online and accessible from anywhere. I considered other online solutions, but personally, I like to keep things as simple as possible. However you do it, it’s a good idea to update your financial tracking system once a week or so, so that you know where you stand and you don’t overspend. Got some spare time? Update.
Meditate at your desk. Some people would say this is just a fancy term for taking a nap. But for me the key is not to fall asleep, but to close my eyes and focus on my breathing. Nothing new-agey about this — it brings your focus back to the present and calms you. Sometimes it’ll calm you so much you’ll fall asleep. I say, two birds, one stone.
Organize your files. OK, this might seem boring to many people, but I like to organize things. I get a perverse satisfaction from purging useless stuff and having everything be smaller, neater, and in order. And it doesn’t take long.
Clear out your inbox. I get joy out of an empty inbox, whether that’s my email inbox or physical one. Crank through it until it’s empty — you don’t have to do everything in the inbox, but just make a note of it on your to-do list if you plan to do it later (or delete, file, forward, or do it now). Got a thousand or two emails in your inbox? Put them in a temporary folder and do them later, starting with a fresh inbox. Chances are, you won’t need to do them at all. Now just keep your inbox empty from here on out.
Crank up the tunes. Some funky or upbeat tunes might just do the trick. They can make any job much more fun. Either play it on your speakers if your coworkers don’t mind, or plug in the earbuds. Currently on my playlist: Radiohead, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jack Johnson, Snow Patrol … I could go on and on.
Get wild! Sometimes we just need to let loose. Start singing at the top of your lungs, or dance around the office. Sure, people might stare or laugh, but a little fun in the office isn’t a bad thing. Or get out of the office and do something fun or crazy. One afternoon of wildity isn’t going to hurt you (well, stay away from things that are illegal or life-threatening, if possible).

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. - Dorothy Parker

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us or on Digg. I’d appreciate it. :)

Posted on 30 January 2008 in Productivity & Organization |
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Comments (84)

Jonathan Fields Says:

January 30th, 2008, 21:24 pm

Hey Leo,

Great list! Two more that popped into my head…

31. Write a letter to your child, nephew or niece. Even a quick text to say you’re thinking about them makes an impression.

32. Listen to a language tutorial on your iPod.

Omer Zach Says:

January 30th, 2008, 21:38 pm

Great post! I do a lot of these already, but there were some great ones I hadn’t thought of.

Israel Says:

January 30th, 2008, 22:12 pm

how do you come up with these things?

Naomi Says:

January 30th, 2008, 22:16 pm

Hey Leo,

I liked your list. Especially the love letter one - makes me think I can’t remember the last time I wrote a love letter (sigh)

My personal favorite: Gardening.

And here’s why - something about helping other things grow is really rewarding. Plus you have to go outdoors, and it can be physically demanding too. (Good to get your mind out of boredom.)

And yes, a good fantasy novel is a great escape.

Nathaniel Scott Says:

January 30th, 2008, 22:27 pm

hey. loved the post and all the others i’ve read so far. seems like we have a lot in common….simplicity, minimalism, organizing, etc.
there’s such a peace that comes with decluttering down to simplicity.
thanks for the ideas. got a decent job, but it’s slow right now. i’ve taken on the extra tasks of cleaning the kitchen and ordering supplies.

banji - LessonInLife.com Says:

January 30th, 2008, 22:31 pm

I will definitely try that “See your co-worker as the evil villain” game. That looks like fun :)

I personally kill boredom by watching people at the mall. Trying to figure out what kind of people they are, their impression and emotion. Maybe coming up with a life story for them. I would consider it an achievement if I can predict what a person will buy, based on his behavior :)

I know, that sound creepy at times hehe, of course I’m not stalking people, just casually observe those people window shopping in front of me.

There are billions of people around the world, maybe hundreds around me, and each of them strive to be more than ordinary. There must be some people who successfully make their life interesting

Lisa Says:

January 30th, 2008, 22:32 pm

When I worked at jobs that bored me silly, I always used the time to try to get myself a new job…it was clear that that’s what I needed!

Now, I’d use the time to jot down some of the funny things my daughter does and says, so I can remember it down the line. But of course, my job is no longer boring enough to allow for downtime!

Frugal Dad Says:

January 30th, 2008, 22:39 pm

These are some great ideas…sometimes I get so bored at work I start literally counting the minutes until quitting time. Other times I am slammed with projects - we tend to go from one extreme to the other. The idea of writing a blog post or two in Notepad is a great idea.

Corey Says:

January 30th, 2008, 23:09 pm

Being bored was how I found zenhabits. Now zenhabits fits into a distraction from being productive. What a vicious cycle you’ve created!

Sam Carrara Says:

January 30th, 2008, 23:18 pm

Great list. I especially like # 8 Educate yourself. It might even help with # 22 or 23.

Keep up the good work (or alternatives to work).

Kristin Says:

January 30th, 2008, 23:21 pm

Great post! I wish I was that bored at work! But when I do have extra time I use it making money….no joke - not a scam. I’m not going to lie, it’s not a lot of money….but it is something and I figure I can add it to my savings or use it as a “fun” fund! Since I’m on the computer all day anyway - I should take advantage of any extra minutes!

There’s some info on my site.

Zack Says:

January 30th, 2008, 23:28 pm

I never understood how anyone could ever possible be bored. Boredom is so strange. There is always something to do. Always!

WONDERFUL post!

-Zack

BadManSports Says:

January 31st, 2008, 0:08 am

This is a great list for temporary boredom, but if it’s constant or recurring you should really only work on the first two.

Nez Says:

January 31st, 2008, 0:09 am

When I was still in the “corporate” world, the place I worked had ping-pong and foosball tables.

engtech Says:

January 31st, 2008, 0:25 am

Talk to coworkers is a good way to cement bonds — if you aren’t interrupting them

Kristy Says:

January 31st, 2008, 1:32 am

Ditto Israel!

You wear uniqueness well, Leo. Great article!

I especially like the letter writing suggestion, but my favorite part of the whole article is “analyzing why you’re bored in the first place.” That’s definitely something I will consider next time I face boredom.

Jim Says:

January 31st, 2008, 1:55 am

Wow, I wish I had the luxury of being bored at work!

LivSimpl Says:

January 31st, 2008, 1:56 am

#27 - Organize files. I couldn’t agree more. In fact, sometimes I can’t start working even when I want to unless I tidy things up and get everything situated. When all is said and done, it creates a much simpler work environment and I find I’m able to focus better.

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

January 31st, 2008, 1:56 am

Great post! You’re right when you say there is a longer answer. It’s important not to simply keep busy as a way to deny the fact that you hate your job. That’s just asking for trouble.

(P.S. Snow Patrol is awesome! I’d recommend listening to Muse as well)

LM7 Says:

January 31st, 2008, 2:26 am

Great post, as usual!

One minor question (perhaps relevant elsewhere): could you post the Google spreadsheet you use instead of MS Money to track your finances (without the data, of course)? This could be very helpful to a lot of people who want to start tracking their finances!

Leo Says:

January 31st, 2008, 2:53 am

Thanks for the wonderful feedback, as always, my friends!

@LM7: I’ve thought about that but just haven’t got around to it. Lemme do that soon — thanks for the suggestion!

Ann Says:

January 31st, 2008, 2:58 am

The first one that pops to mind is leaving comments on other blogs.

You can challenge yourself to see how many ways you can look busy when you aren’t (this is a full time pre-occupation of some of my colleagues and I feel that it is time to be more creative than just piling up files on the desk).

For real amusement, call your home voicemail and see if you can hold an animated one-side conversation with yourself at a volume just loud enough to be heard by nearby colleagues.

I find myself spending a lot of time writing macros or building spreadsheets/databases to do what little work I have even more efficiently. In one way this compounds the problem but it gives me something interesting challenges and build some skills in the process.

Pixel Kid Says:

January 31st, 2008, 4:57 am

I am about to go get ready for work right now, my plan to stop from getting bored generally goes like this…

1) Always have something to read, I read at least 3-4 chapters a day during toilet breaks :p
2) I will be sneaking off to the gym for an hour, today is my upper body day, nothing gets you motivated more than a good workout which will prepare you for…
3) today is payday so I will be trying to get my finances in order.

I do not know how people can get bored, I’ve said it before but only boring people get bored.

nicola Says:

January 31st, 2008, 5:27 am

I think that this list can only excite the “The war between being and nothingness” rather than calming it. If the boredom is a product of mind is fighting it like fighting with the mind?

Jay F.H. Says:

January 31st, 2008, 5:53 am

Audiobooks Baby!!

Gato Callejero Says:

January 31st, 2008, 7:01 am

the best thing is work in group not alone. try to speak… and be active. if u are alone what about not to work? ;)

mem Says:

January 31st, 2008, 7:55 am

Oooh thanks. It’s me who posted the original question about boredom at work. Unfortunately I realize I’m already doing everything on the list, except pursuing a new project (it’s not me who makes projects alas.) I read informative sites, yours!, forums and blogs. I do yoga breathing, drink water or just stay still. I look at my cat’s pic or chat with my bf…
It’s definitely time to change, I can’t take it anymore.

mem Says:

January 31st, 2008, 8:01 am

“only boring people get bored”… This doesn’t make sense. It’s the people who are always looking for new spurs, knowledges and ideas who can get bored in the wrong environment. My most boring colleagues are content and satisfied with their routines and roles, trust me.

Stephen Says:

January 31st, 2008, 8:55 am

I have been thinking of starting a blog just for the sake or writing and clearing my brain during the day or at the end of the day. Just to reset my head and get out a bunch of stuff so I do not have 5 million things bouncing around in there. The ONE thing holding me up is finding a decent domain name. I know thats silly and all, but unless I want skdfjsdfrbnjiikeng.com anything ‘decent’ is taken.

Andrew Galasetti Says:

January 31st, 2008, 9:19 am

Great post! You should do one for students too. Or get someone who’s a student to guest post. I’m a college student and classes are beyond boring.

- Andrew

John Says:

January 31st, 2008, 10:19 am

To those who “don’t understand how someone could be bored at work”, you’re often inferring you do a lot of non-work at work. For a lot of people this is either not an option or a source of guilt. I think it’s obvious that anyone can find SOMETHING to do at work all day (i.e. I could bring in a TV, simply leave work early, etc). It’s not about sitting there with all the world’s possibilities on your lap and thinking “hmm I’m bored”, it is about wanting to not look like a slacker. I suppose this article gives me insight into other more, I figured everyone felt this way but it seems like a lot of people are completely fine with getting paid to do nothing for much of the day. (guilt trip :) heh)

creativelyselfemployed.com Says:

January 31st, 2008, 11:36 am

A great list. I never get bored because I’m always on to the next thing, but many creatives (especially) can go through lulls or creative voids!

Kyle @ Rather-Be-Shopping.com Says:

January 31st, 2008, 11:56 am

#19, take a nap - reminds me of George Constanza setting up the little nap/tv station under his desk. If only I was not 6′2″, otherwise I would be all over that!

mem Says:

January 31st, 2008, 12:05 pm

@That’s what drives me crazy! When I have to look for diversions in order to survive at work. Having a pause sometimes is fine, being in an almost-constant pause is not. I feel underused and frustrated and I’m just wasting my time (and by the way, when I have nothing to do is because of my boss not being able to organize himself and work.)

mem Says:

January 31st, 2008, 12:05 pm

Sorry:
@John …

John of Indiana Says:

January 31st, 2008, 12:30 pm

I thought I had found a wonderful lunch-time mind-ventilating exercise when I discovered those tiny r/c helicopters a few weeks back.
Well, that lasted a week before some NewCheese-chaser down the hall complained about the “horseplay”.
I think the attitude of “This is WORK, it’s not SUPPOSED to be FUN!” still infests our culture.
sigh….

Keith Says:

January 31st, 2008, 12:59 pm

For me, the best method of overcoming boredom is to go within…with breathing and mentalizing the mantra “SOHAM” that was taught by Yogananda. SOHAM is the two-syllable form of OM, symbolizing Spirit. So, by detaching the mind from the external world, you go inward and just “become one” with your breath…this is a true break from whatever stress or boredom you might be experiencing in the external world. Regards, Keith Johnson, Author “365 Great Affirmations”

Keala Says:

January 31st, 2008, 13:01 pm

#7 was hilarious

I’ve done #13 countless times. Then I realized I was just sick of that job, so I got a better one.

Love this list man. Keep up the great work.

A great site for #11 is http://www.nasa.gov. I get great photos there.

Proseac Says:

January 31st, 2008, 13:19 pm

I don’t mean to be preachy, but, I think it’s rather sad that no-one thought of what I think should be an obvious option…ask around to see if any of your co-workers needs a hand with something.

It says a lot about our society today that so many people are completely fine with just tooling around surfing websites or playing solitaire when they have no work to do. If you’re being paid to be there, you should at least make an effort to do something productive for the people who are paying you.

JMHO…

anon Says:

January 31st, 2008, 14:49 pm

you should add this to the list:
learn how to code your html properly so that the people reading your posts dont have to squint or highlight the text to read it when it bleeds over into the blue side of your page.

DermDoc Says:

January 31st, 2008, 14:52 pm

I like #23 - write a blog post.

When I have a no-show patient I try to get a post totally done in 15 minutes. Never happens, but its a good use of time anyway.

Nicole Says:

January 31st, 2008, 14:59 pm

I really like the ideas you’ve offered!

But I can’t see actually doing many of these ideas.

Perhaps it’s b/c I work in NYC or just the fact that it’s America, but I’d expect most of them to get you a condescending sneer from workaholic coworkers or treacherous bosses.

I happen to think that in times of boredom, dips in energy, enthusiasm or when in need of a break, workers should be ENTITLED to do any of the above.

It’s really shouldn’t be anyone’s concern anyway. If we are a significant asset to our company, our breaks should be our business.

But alas, corporate sucks and until we collectively deny them the right to treat us as workhorses, we’ll forever be jealous of Best Buy/Netflix/Google employee perks.

joe Says:

January 31st, 2008, 14:59 pm

This list will get you fired.

Brian Says:

January 31st, 2008, 15:19 pm

I think part of the problem is actually that there are too many inconsequential things vying for attention.

And as the last person said: This list will get you fired.

I think we need to figure out how to make productive use of our time, not use of our time that will loose us our job.

Jasper Says:

January 31st, 2008, 15:33 pm

#31 become a social networking addict. this will leave very little time for actual work, so you’ll always be scrambling to get everything done in between twittering, digging, mixxing, stumbling, etc etc …
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2331213

DermDoc Says:

January 31st, 2008, 15:34 pm

Oh, forgot to add: leave comment on Zenhabits

Amir Ahmad | PassionBasedLearning.com Says:

January 31st, 2008, 15:40 pm

Great list Leo, although I don’t understand how people could be bored at work. The only reason I can think of is if they’re not passionate about what they do in the first place.

How about tackling the root cause instead? What do you think?

Putting passion into what we do will eliminate the boredom away! :)

Charlie Says:

January 31st, 2008, 15:57 pm

Great list, leo. I think these can also be adapted to boredom at school and at home also.
great work.
-Charlie

http://ich4z.blogspot.com
‘Chaz’s Notes’
Personal Development for the Modern Age

Fun Boy Says:

January 31st, 2008, 16:10 pm

When I am bored at work I take online quizzes.

This site is always good for 30 minutes of distractions:
http://www.quizrocket.com/

Henrik Says:

January 31st, 2008, 17:17 pm

Boy, this sure was a great post!

Number 4, reading Zen Habits, is one of my favorites when I need a break. =)

Thank you Leo for an incredibly inspiring blog. All of your simple tips are really valuable and I learn a lot from reading them. I’m gradually putting stuff into practice, and it’s fun!

Pixel Kid Says:

January 31st, 2008, 17:46 pm

The job I’m doing at the moment I do to the best of my ability and have asked for more work and told that there is no more work that is available to me. So I am left with quite rediculous amounts of time on my hands. I do not feel any guilt about it because I am doing the job that I am employed to do and am doing it to the best of my ability. It would be a different matter if I were to rush my work, in order to have some “Costanza time” :p.

I’m just glad my office has a gym, I’ve never been so fit!

security Says:

January 31st, 2008, 18:03 pm

I love you forever. Thank you for this. Bookmarked and passing it around.Especially the read zenhabits part.

Chris Says:

January 31st, 2008, 18:33 pm

Start trading options.

You’ll be forever busy and glued to your computer. You may even make some money.

Steve Aliment Says:

January 31st, 2008, 19:15 pm

How about doing what you are getting PAID to do. Jeeze. Find a new job if you are board.

Michael Wong Says:

January 31st, 2008, 19:18 pm

Boredom is when your body is one place and your mind wants to be somewhere else. Either body follows mind, in which case quit your job. In most cases, quitting IS an option. You may have to scale back on the extravagant lifestyle ie blowing your pay on payday or paying for blow on Friday because you hate your job so much.

Or, mind follows body in which tell your mind to “sit the F down and be in the moment.” If that’s the case, I read this interesting book called “leave your mind behind - the everyday practice of finding stillness amid rushing thoughts” that might help. It’s not Buddhist in any sense for those who are suspicious of spiritual mumbo-jumbo. It’s very practical.

Shanti Braford Says:

January 31st, 2008, 19:47 pm

Definitely research your next gig.

I’m the kind of guy who gets bored fairly easily, after about 6 months on the same project or company, it almost inevitably gets old.

Chances are, the boredom won’t stop (where you are now).

Freelancing has been working out great so far though. Always something new every few months.

Chaos Motor Says:

January 31st, 2008, 20:12 pm

Crunches are absolutely worthless. You don’t just flex your biceps to build them up, crunches are the same principle. Try the Farmer Burns Stomach Flattener (google it) while sitting at your desk, four-point leg-lifts, or a basic planche. Anything - A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G - works better than crunches.

Patrick Allmond Says:

January 31st, 2008, 20:20 pm

Wow. Absolutely amazing. A list of how to not do work… at work. Would it not be better to do a list of the top 30 ways to work your way to the top at work ?

eclecticaliah Says:

January 31st, 2008, 20:28 pm

Just curious…I’m reading this list and these comments and I’m thinking, what on earth jobs do people have where there’s nothing to do? I am a teacher (teaching 800 kids a week!) and I never get bored because I’m always trying desperately to get things done in time. Where are you guys working?

Kay Cee Says:

January 31st, 2008, 20:56 pm

Go into the teaching profession, you will go crazy instead of being bored!

Charbel Says:

January 31st, 2008, 21:12 pm

I suggest reading the 4-Hour Work Week if you feel like work is not fulfilling your creativity and inspiring you to do what excites you. I don’t agree with every concept in the book, but I think it’s interesting and challenged me to not complain and do what excites me.

Working Girl Says:

January 31st, 2008, 23:42 pm

I used to write poetry at boring jobs.

One job was not only boring but in a very very noisy room and the work was very very mindless. I sang songs (no one could hear me).

Oh, and thanks, Fun Boy, for the link.

Nuclear Midnight Says:

February 1st, 2008, 1:28 am

It Appears That A Good Number Of These Suggestions Could Put You “Out” Of Work. If You Have That Kind Of Time To Piss Away At Work, Get A Government Job, You’ll Have Plenty Of Fellow “Workers” To Hang Out With And Be Right At Home…

Padrino Says:

February 1st, 2008, 3:23 am

How about do your JOB!!!!

If you need distractions from work to keep you from getting bored, its time for a new job. So I guess your one piece of advice (to look for a new job) is the only one you really need.

Lily Says:

February 1st, 2008, 4:26 am

It’s right to look for a new job. Finding one though is an entirely different thing!

Alex Liu Says:

February 1st, 2008, 6:01 am

Hmm…

I would like to suggest one idea: “See what you can do to support people around you.” When I start to feel bored, I will check with my mom if she need help on something. I will go help her on something and feel fresh after I contributed something.

Alex Liu
How To Become A Millionaire
http://secretsofunlimitedwealth.com

Play Chess! Says:

February 1st, 2008, 6:17 am

You should all be playing chess online instead of working!!

Janibello Says:

February 1st, 2008, 7:46 am

You should also mention bragster.com ;-) I spent hours on the website last week.

Try Bragster.com - all about fun, dares and bets! Says:

February 1st, 2008, 7:47 am

Definately the best anti-boring website!

zebra111 Says:

February 1st, 2008, 7:51 am

WTF?

I must be missing something here, as it is 3:39 AM where I am at, and I am still working. But then I own my own business and have employees and their families to support along with my own.

Plus my employees like all of the perks and benefits I provide, some of which are way beyond normal Corporate perks/benefits and quite exciting, fullfilling and unexpected. It is not all work and no play!!

But then that is why I will be able to transfer ownership of the business in a few years to my employees.

And no, I am not a workaholic. My business has all kinds of machinery and equipment for me to play with, travel opportunities, and so on.

And the Professional Organizations I belong to, meet all over the World. And I attend as often as I can [thats one of the perks I am talking about - and employee/s and significant other/s also will attend]

In any W-2 job that I have had - there was always more work [and the rewards from it] than time in the day.

Amy Says:

February 1st, 2008, 10:04 am

I thought the list was cute.

http://www.cafepress.com/lazdad

Andy Says:

February 1st, 2008, 12:09 pm

I wonder why Fark.com is mysteriously absent?

Write a blog post?? I find that most people that have blogs think that others are actually interested in what they have to say. Guess what, we’re not.

Erin Says:

February 1st, 2008, 13:31 pm

Wow, this list was perfect timing. But reading through, I’ve noticed that I’ve done many of these things already. Still, there were a few new things for me to add to my regime.

Keep up the excellent work! Your website helps to keep me from boredom as well. :)

Hax Or Says:

February 1st, 2008, 13:35 pm

Wow, lot’s of negative comments (as usual). They’re all missing the point.

If you don’t like the list, please don’t post. We all loved it. Remember, if you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.

Or in this case, if you can’t say something nice, don’t be a Comment Troll. It will come back on you seven-fold.

Jeanette Says:

February 1st, 2008, 14:09 pm

I like to do random acts of anonymous kindness to my coworkers…maybe putting away the shipment of office supplies or typing up a random nice note saying “Thank you for your work” and putting it on people’s desks. It makes me and my coworkers feel nice and keeps a fun air of mystery in the office.

jan Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 1:12 am

This article does keep my boredom down

Michelle Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 2:02 am

we tend to hula hoop at work when we’re bored. thank goodness we work for a low-key company. It usually means we need chocolate or that its 4 p.m.

Chris Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 12:43 pm

How about actually doing work, at work? Ever think about that? I don’t know what you guys do but if i did half of this list i would be fired. How can i take a nap or run an errand out side of work, just because I’m bored. Grow up.

Heather Says:

February 4th, 2008, 0:08 am

I just came on full time at a company I’ve been contracting for. They are low key and things tend to go in spurts. We’ll be busy for a few weeks, then slow for a week. One of the reasons I wanted this job is because I am a writer and this affords me a chance to do that while still getting a pay check.

This list is great and will go well with the Friday afternoon beers that we have in the office.

Wes P Says:

February 4th, 2008, 14:53 pm

Foosball’s good for boredom at work as well. Around here, there’s usually always someone willing to play.

Chris Says:

February 4th, 2008, 22:09 pm

Thanks for the advice! Me and my 12th grade class have been using the CIA spy technique, and it keeps us entertained for hours.

pete Says:

February 8th, 2008, 13:51 pm

I just recently started desk meditation at work. If you need to regain your focus, this is the way to do it. It only takes a minute or two and nobody even notices.