30 Things to Do When You're Bored at Work (And the 5 I Still Haven't Tried!)
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Have you ever had one of those days when your eyes are watery, your brain feels sluggish, and all you want to do is crawl into bed?
That was exactly how I was feeling when I wrote this.
I was sooooo bored, sleepy, and struggling to stay focused. Since dozing off at work wasn't exactly an option, I decided to look around the internet for something—anything—that could keep me entertained and awake.
That's when I came across an interesting article from Zen Habits titled "30 Things to Do to Keep From Getting Bored Out of Your Skull at Work."
Before you scroll any further, can we take a moment to appreciate that pixelated photo above? 😅
Shoutout to my cousin John-John ... my model.
The Battle Against Workplace Boredom
One quote from the article immediately caught my attention:
"Boredom slays more of existence than war." – Norman Mailer
Quite dramatic, isn't it?
The author mentioned that he rarely gets bored because he always finds something to keep himself occupied—whether productive or not. That made me wonder how many of the 30 suggested activities I've actually done throughout my working life.
Surprisingly, I've already tried most of them!
The 5 Things I Still Haven't Done
Out of all 30 suggestions, there are only five things on the list that I haven't done yet. Ever.
1. Take a Nap in the Office
Well... that's nearly impossible.
With so many people around and eyes watching everywhere, I don't think I'd ever get away with it. Besides, knowing myself, a "quick nap" might turn into a full sleeping session!
2. Meditate at Your Desk
To be honest, meditation sounds dangerously close to taking a nap.
I have a feeling that if I closed my eyes for a few minutes, I'd be snoring before I reached inner peace.
3. Write a Novel
Let's be realistic here.
Before writing a novel, I should probably spend more time improving my vocabulary and writing skills. One step at a time!
4. Read Zen Habits Regularly
Well, I can finally check this one off soon because this article was actually my first introduction to Zen Habits.
Better late than never, right?
5. Get Wild
OMG. 😂
Let's just leave that one right there.
Mission Accomplished
The funny thing is that after reading the article and reflecting on the list, I completely forgot about being sleepy.
My brain was working again, my energy was back, and boredom had officially left the building.
Sometimes all it takes is finding something interesting to read, a little laughter, and a few moments to reset your mind.
So, what about you?
What do you usually do when boredom strikes at work?
I'd love to hear your answers in the comments!
Cheers! 🍻
