What do you do at work when there is nothing to do???

@mzbubblie (3839)
United States
March 14, 2007 10:18am CST
This question came about just sitting here.... I just started my new position on Monday, however, there is nothing for me to do but surf the net, shop online, read the paper and chat from time to time.... Until Monday when my official training start. I'm not complaining because I am getting paid...but still...lol It can get boring, but, I'm not complaining. From what everyone else tells me once I start working, I won't have time to really do anything else... But until then...here I am..... So when you don't have alot of work to do, or it's a slow day, what do you do? How do you keep yourself occupied? Give me some ideas.... I know I look forward to my breaks and lunches that's for sure..lol
11 people like this
57 responses
• Singapore
14 Mar 07
Oh yes, I know that feeling - and I really hate it. But hey, are you sure you can do nothing? I think it is still important to try to act busy even though you really have nothing to do! :P Perhaps you can start by preparing for your new position. Read up, research, etc. Just PRETEND. :PP
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I do try to look busy, but even my supervisor know there is nothing for me to do...She just comes over and check on me or I do very minimal filing..lol
• Singapore
17 Mar 07
Successful people are generally good pretenders. *wink*
@ydnac22 (802)
• Philippines
23 Mar 07
I understand your situation..Im an IT personnel and we doing HTML designs, im working here all night long for almost two years now and just imagine how boaring it is working 8-10 hours every night in front of the computer.But im used to this kind of situation now.Everytime im free im here in mYLot reading discussions.Good that im really fond of reading.I sometimes chat in YM, play online games, watch movies that we download and listen to music....etc.. Dont worry you will get used in that kind of situation..just keep going... :)
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Well, I finally start training Monday officially..That should be pretty good now. I'm on my way..lol
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Considering that my job i stay home mom when the house work is done I will either come to mylot to get some "work" done or I will continue to crochet the blanket I am making or my daughters birthday.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Oh well that's very nice....Always a good thing to move about and get other things done when you have free time... Thank you for responding
@Bee1955 (3882)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Get to work! - work station
Until your training begins, find some manuals pertaining to your work and read up on them. Go online and find a site that has a job description to what you'll be doing and learn some more. Dont just sit around. If they are right that once you get trained, you'll be working steady, then get the jump on the training and be more than ready!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Thank you for that...I can't wait to start training...
@junior07 (972)
• India
15 Mar 07
i like to read some novels in my spare time if i have.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Ahh, that's always a plus, however, for me I don't like reading books, I don't know why...
@faraza (159)
• Malaysia
15 Mar 07
this might sound boring, but u can read a t the company's policy, bulletins and everything else about the company. u should have some knowledge about your workplace even if it concerns other department. the benefit goes to u actually because when u read all these boring stuff, you will have the advantage of knowing your rights at the workplace (employers don't encourage staff to read the staff handbook because of this). you'll be surprised to know what u can request from your employer. a lot of the senior staff doesn't even know what they might miss!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Well, I actually still with the same company which I been with for 8 years, I know the policy pretty well, plus we have annual reviews where we go over importance of the policy... Thank you for the gesture though, Had I been a new employee to the company, I probably would be doing that...
@wmg2006 (5381)
• United States
15 Mar 07
I have a job like yours. It isn't that slow it is just I have been doing it for so long it doesn't take me long to do it. I read my email, come to mylot, go to dormcheck, talk to my son in germany via msn or skype, and work chacha as a guide all during the day. Some days I go to iwn.com or iwon.com and play their games. I never shop thought or I would be broke too. I try to post at least 30 if not 50 post a day at mylot so I spend most of time here posting as much as possible during the day at work. LOL I have too much to do when I get home to be here much at night.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
hehehe, I know I need to stop shopping so much, but it's like I have all this free time, I can't help but to take a peek at something..lol...I do find some pretty interesting topics to post which is always a plus. My thought process is totally free and clear to really dig deep down to think about something I want to post..lol
@clod0327 (817)
• Philippines
15 Mar 07
If I have nothing else to do at work and it’s really a slow day, I do a digital scrapbook of my daughters pictures. I’m into digital scrap booking and if I ‘m really not doing anything, I would create layouts of pictures of my daughter. This is one thing that I really enjoy doing. Time flies every time I’m digi scrapping so before I know it’s already time to go home.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Ahh that's really nice, YOu have a hobby where you can take it to work, I never heard of digial scrap booking, it's sounds like a load of fun though. I bet time does fly especially when you are enjoying what you doing.. Thanks for the response, also the thought of digital scrapbooking, I may look into that myself....
• Philippines
15 Mar 07
LOL, you are lucky... why don't you just read books or e-books on your spare time so that you'll have more idea regarding your work?
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Because I'm not really one for reading books...I don't know just never have been much on it...Thank you though for your advice
@hafiz74 (268)
• Malaysia
15 Mar 07
I'm working at call centre, which is 24h operation. Normally, in the midnight, there is less call for fault report. So, filling my empty time, i'm surfing the internet. Checking my email, replying MyLot discussion, paying bill, read the paper or playing games. This may help me from bored.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Yes, I found myself doing all of the above, they have started me with the filing...It's like I know exactly what I will be doing when I get to work tomorrow...thank you for responding
• Malaysia
15 Mar 07
:Dhi, its sound familiar to me. i had the same situation everytime i changed to new job, even it last till 6 months. i'm a kind of person that hate less work so normally i will walk and ask around anything i could help or else as what you did, chat online, surfing along the hours and just wait for the working time over. well, if the situation more that 3 months, i dont think i will be staying there for long with no work challenging at all :D
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
lol...Yeah I know what you mean, I wouldn't either, But, I know for me I have to wait to get some Id's to every do the work. So that's a hold up for me for the most part. I know in due time I will be busy and my days will go by real quick..lol
• United States
15 Mar 07
I do exactly what your doing. I work night shift, so there is a lot of down time. Just watching gauges all night make sure they don't get too low or too high. Pays well and this sure does pass the time. Good Luck to Monday
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
lol I know right..Thank you also, I guess the busy me starts Monday. Until then, Here I am :) Thank you for responding
• China
15 Mar 07
These days, I also have very little work to do!Maybe one month later,I will be very very busy. I feel it's very boring when I have no work to do.very boring.Most of the time, I surf on the internet,looking for interesting things,and also pay much time on Mylot. Sometimes I study-read some books.Everybody should keep on studying!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Yes sounds just about what I have been doing surfing. I got another long day ahead of me surfing the net..lol
@longhong (20)
• China
15 Mar 07
Your situation is the same as me ,I am a new worker in the office,when I am online ,they are all very busy in doing something,I feel I looks like the air,I have nothing to do,and I dont like my job at all,so I deceide to look for other job I like
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Well congrats on the new job...I guess we both will be surfing and posting on Mylot until training day comes...lol
@missinghim (1339)
• United States
14 Mar 07
actually, i'm doing it. i am sooooo bored right now!!! i just can't wait until 5:30 rolls around so i can get OUT OF HERE and enjoy this gorgeous weather. when you find something to do please let me know! LOL
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
14 Mar 07
HAHAHAHAHAHA...I'm with you...Today, I know I spent about 65.00 shopping online..lol...Yes, the weather is wonderful here also...I got 23 more minutes and counting....I feel your pain...lol hang on lady the time is coming :)
@disvachic (10117)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I work overnights and theres nothing to do until 5am night.I have 4 clients and they are sleep when i arrive on shift at 11pm.I am on the only overnight staff so it can be lovely i can watch tv,phone,computer all of that.If i was in your shoes around alot of coworkers then i would probably doing what you are doing here at mylot,surfing the net to make time go by faster.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Yes, and spending money..Gawd, I didn't realize how much boredom can cost..lol
@jricbt (1454)
• Brazil
14 Mar 07
I have the luck to have a job where there is ALWAYS something to do. I develop websites and scripts, so I always have something to do. Always, with is both good and bad. Have a nice day.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
14 Mar 07
ahh, that's good, I'm pretty sure once I get trained I will have alot of stuff to do..But, until then...I guess I'm here :)
@34momma (13882)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I have the very best job. I work as a receptionist which gives me alot of me time to do what i need to do online. I work on mylots and my websites and blogs.I love my job. i work with awsome people and it gives me time to be where with you wondferful mylot people.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Oh wow...that's very cool. It's always nice to work with a group of nice people and have a understanding employer at that
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
With some idle time at work, I usually surf the net or play some online games. Other times, I do some online work like mylot. I also chat with friends and browse for vacation packages. It is also relaxing, so when I have to do work, I would feel refreshed.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
14 Mar 07
hehehehe...sounds like what I been doing here lately...
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I usually find something to clean, empty the shredder, read memos. When that is all done, I chat with fellow employees.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Yes, I been doing alot of chatter here lately, they seem to be a fun bunch too