Boredom...

I don't know about anyone else, but one reason I eat is because I'm bored.  Going to the cafeteria or vending machine (shudder) gives me something to do, eating gives me something to do, etc.  Something that's not time spent on the internet. *ahem*

Anyway, I'm rather at loose ends today at work - I'm a programmer and we just got told to stop work on something that funding may have fallen through for.

Anyone have any motivational ideas for me?  Things to distract me?  Any other advice?

Thanks!

Read or go for a walk, that helps me.

Unfortunately, I can walk around inside, but outside requires badging out and then back in.  I do have a book... I can put it inside a programing book so I look busy...

Isn't it silly, trying to look busy when your boss knows that you have nothing to do, not because you're slacking?  :P

Mind game things are good fun. I found this one. I read about it in a magazine. You could also get crosswords, word finds or sudoko books.

Other stuff: Make a grocery list. Cover stuff in post its. Google silly pictures to hang up in your work area. Find motivational quotes and print them off to hang up. Watch stupid things on YouTube.

If you mouth simply wants something to do, get sugar free hard candies and suck on them (no crunching), chew gum, suck on ice, have some mints.

duplicate see above

duplicate deux see above

Thanks, some good ideas there. :)

July 16, 2008

My husband works with computes. At his job, if they don't have anything to do, they are aloud to use the computers to learn a new skill. (He's learned some more computer languages and 3D.)

This used to be pretty common for me at my last job.  With practice there is actually a lot to do.  I would sortof split my time between job related things and personal things.  This is a great opportunity to further your career skills, read career related magazines and books, teach yourself new skills, learn new applications, and do online tutorials.  About.com has a bunch of free online classes and I took some of those.  I also did things for myself, programmed small applications for my own use and amusement (I'm actually a mechanical engineer, I just program a little), bugeted my finances, researched things I was interested in, ect. 

You're boss knows you have nothing to do, so you could even ask if the company will pay for you to take a class. 

This is a great time to clean out those files, organize your desk, organize your desktop, burn copies of important stuff to cd's, make up a birthday calendar with all your family birthdays on it, weed out your email, adjust your spam settings, use the dustbuster on your keyboard, go on a germ search and destroy hunt, plan your menus for the week, make all the appointments you have been putting off, shine your shoes, plan your next travel spot, write your mother/relatives, etc.  :) 

I have the exact same problem. I am a front end developer and I have been at my job so long I could do it with one hand tied behind my back so even when I am busy I am bored...I don't know what to do about it either.