Free hours are inevitable in most jobs, but even if you really don't have anything else to do, your boss probably won't be happy to see you relax. Relax discreetly, or spend your time doing productive things that are more convenient, instead of waiting for customers or emails.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Spending Fun Time
Step 1. Send a message to a friend
Chat with friends who haven't worked, or friends with equally boring jobs. First, turn off your phone's volume, and be careful. Don't look at your phone too often, or you'll get caught.
Step 2. Hide your computer activity
Move screens away from doors and windows if possible, and turn off computer and game sounds. Thoroughly hide your activity in case someone passes by you.
- Hide your Start bar or Dock. Right-click (or press Cmd+Click) this bar, then enable the option to hide the bar so that no one knows what window you have open.
- Learn hotkeys to close a tab, minimize a window, or switch to another program. To switch between programs, try altTab on Windows or cmdTab on Mac. Do not play the game full screen, as the game window may not be able to be minimized.
- If you are really afraid of getting caught, try the following software to mask access to social networks or make your internet activity anonymous.
Step 3. Find entertainment in cyberspace
Visit online gaming sites like Kongregate, art galleries like DeviantArt, or other specialty sites. Since you've found wikiHow… you might find some interesting links on the front page
- This step can be dangerous, especially if your computer screen can be seen by your coworkers, or anyone else who passes by your room. Some companies even monitor employees' internet usage.
- For entertainment that looks a little more formal, measure your typing speed online and increase your typing speed.
Step 4. Make a doodle
Take a pencil or pen, and draw simple pictures of whatever comes to mind. If you have a talent for art, make a doodle as a gift for a friend.
Step 5. Find an interesting app
If you're tired of playing games on your phone, enrich your knowledge with a knowledge app, or compare several different timing apps. Use the phone under the table silently, or next to a paper/folder that can be pulled on top of the phone.
Step 6. Read a book
If your job is a lot of free time, some bosses allow you to spend time reading. If you must read silently, bring a small book that you can tuck into your pocket or drawer. You can also read e-books; many e-books are available for free online or in the app market.
Step 7. Find a game with a coworker
If your coworkers are also trying to kill time, make it a fun activity with light competition. Do competitions like throwing paper in the trash, or slipping a funny word into conversation without realizing it. Here are ideas you can use to create a competition at work:
- Attach binder clips to someone's clothes without them noticing. If you are successful, he should attach the clip to someone else's clothes.
- Play "photo assassin". Designate another player as a target randomly for each player. When you take a photo of your target's face, he loses, and you take the target he was given.
- If your office has chairs, make a day contest without stepping on the office floor.
Step 8. Learn origami
If you have a lot of free time, origami is a hobby that doesn't take up much space but takes a long time to master. Start learning from a beginner's origami book or online guide. Hard squares are the best paper for studying, but if you want your creative process to go unnoticed, you can cut plain office paper yourself.
Method 2 of 2: Spending Time Productively
Step 1. Try to create a pleasant working atmosphere
If you're feeling lazy at work, try changing your approach by conversing with your coworkers, or hanging out with them outside the office to create a warmer work environment. Encourage yourself to get work done by giving yourself a reward every hour, like a snack or a break.
Step 2. Offer help to a coworker
Walk around the office and ask your friends, do they need help? Leave them if they refuse -- bothering them with offers of help is not advisable.
Step 3. Set up your work email
Read all unread emails and reply to as many as possible. When you're done, use the label or folder system on your email service to organize your email. You can set emails by date to reply (today, this week, or this month), project, or type (announcement, reference document, and personal).
If you're using an email system based on Gmail, you can set new messages to go straight to a specific category
Step 4. Try light exercise which is good for health, also good for killing time
Most light exercises can be done while sitting, such as rotating your shoulders and neck, or moving your arm and leg muscles.
Step 5. Read about work-related topics
Your boss will have a hard time blaming you if you spend time studying at work. Read your work-related blog or journal online, or bring a work-related book to study in your spare time.
Step 6. Make your own calendar
You can make your own calendar with printed paper, or cardboard if you have one available at your workplace. This process takes a lot of time, from churning the paper to making a calendar in the form of a binder. After you cut the paper, use a ruler to draw six vertical lines to divide the page into seven days. Draw four horizontal lines to divide the line into five lines, and you will have enough lines to write the date of the month. Copy the online calendar to mark the day, it will reduce errors.
- If you have more free time, color each month, and include holidays and family birthdays for the year ahead.
- If you don't want to cut and assemble your calendar yourself, make an old notebook your to-do, with two to three days per page.
Step 7. Clean your workplace and shared spaces
Organize your desk drawer. Take out the trash or clean the bathroom. If you really don't have a job, doing these little things will signal your boss that you need more work.
Step 8. Find a new job
This step may not be what you want to do in the office, but if you've followed all the steps in this guide, you may need to find a more challenging opportunity.
Tips
- If you're having a hard time getting motivated for the work you need to do, try taking turns doing several tasks, such as 15-30 minutes per task. Schedule five-minute breaks every 30-60 minutes to freshen up.
- Look for software like Zhider or ClickyGone to hide non-work related programs.
