Sitting at work wondering, "Whats the Point"?

Okay, I am not suicidal in anyway, just bored out of my mind.  I work in a high profile industry and make an above average salary, yet I think I have reached the level in my career where my job is to do nothing.  I love the salary and I love what my job is supposed to be.  I took a jump out of the same job, different firm, where I was paid about 30% less but did about 75% more.  How is that possible you may ask.  I work in the financial industry and depending on the size and type of firm pay rates fluctuate wildly.  I am in Compliance.

I have asked my boss for more projects due to the fact that we are slow and his repsonse was just to sit tight.  There are 2 people in my division and the other person I work with can take a 30 minute task and stretch it out for 2 weeks.  I have not yet mastered that task.

I surf the net most of the day.  I do personal business, etc., etc., etc.  I know I shouldn't complain and there are people out there that are stressed and overworked.  I just can't handle being bored or unchallenged.  I need to stretch my mental capacity. 

For those of you that are going to say, shut up and be thankful that you have a job.  I am very thankful, and quitting isn't an option because right now the job market is tight. 

Thanks for allowing the rant

Original Post by theresa5656:

cellophane_star - boredom is the start of ingenuity I think  At least I have time to read and keep track of myself.  My job also provides and excuse to go for walks.  I take one at lunch, prior to this job lunch wasn't much of an option.  I will take the good with the bored (oops I mean bad)

 I agree. I've managed to research so much about food, nutrition, fitness classes, fitness courses I can take, etc. The way I see it is I'll fill my seat in my office for 40 hours a week but the rest of the time is MY LIFE. Work is work and I'm paid well for it but it's not my life. I can handle a little boredom if it allows me to pay for fitness courses, personal training or fun vacations!

sybil878 - some areas are much busier than others. We are a mid sized regional firm that is owned by a bank. There are two people dedicated to our division. The job could easily be handled by 1.5 people.  Total of 19 people in the compliance department.  Each person is somewhat specialized.  Hence the "slow" cycle up here.