Bored at work

healthy491
healthy491 Posts: 384 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I got a summer job in an office and work is usually slow so I end up starring at the computer for 6 hours. I get bored and end up eating even if not hungry.
Any ideas as to what I can do?
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Replies

  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,372 Member
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc
  • healthy491
    healthy491 Posts: 384 Member
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)
  • smotheredincheese
    smotheredincheese Posts: 559 Member
    When I feel tempted to start snacking at work I come on here and read the success stories board, which usually reminds me to stay on track.
    Sometimes I bring low calorie snacks in with me like grapes or cherry tomatoes so if I do end up mindlessly snacking at least I'm getting one of my 5 a day.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    find a better job....
  • healthy491
    healthy491 Posts: 384 Member
    edited August 2016
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    Tell your boss that he/she's paying you to do nothing. I'm sure they'll find something for you to do.
  • katiebean
    katiebean Posts: 110 Member
    Snack on lower calorie things, like vegetables or (certain) fruits
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    There must be something that needs doing or they wouldn't be spending the money - proactively seeking out work rather than sitting still because you've done what they gave you to do will reflect better on you as well, and you'll get a better reference at the end.

    To avoid ruining your calorie goals, bring in and pre-log all your snacks, lunch etc, as well as pre-logging your dinner plans. If you're still bored and they really have nothing for you to do, pop to the loo and do some squats and lunges (taking the stairs if possible) :)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student

    tell your boss you have nothing to do....
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,745 Member
    CurlyCockney wrote: »
    Tell your boss that he/she's paying you to do nothing. I'm sure they'll find something for you to do.

    Yep ... in the next meeting say, "I don't have any work to do". That'll fix it.
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    I have times during the day I'm allowed to eat...7am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm. If it's not those time I can't eat. Yes, that sounds weird but it works. And I have to eat what I planned...no diversions...
  • zaang3467
    zaang3467 Posts: 3 Member
    healthy491 wrote: »
    So I got a summer job in an office and work is usually slow so I end up starring at the computer for 6 hours. I get bored and end up eating even if not hungry.
    Any ideas as to what I can do?

    Don't wait for someone to give you stuff to do. Take initiative, ask around if someone else needs help, try to come up with new workflows that will ease your workload once the work arrives. Check what you can improve etc. There is always work to be done.

    Staring at the screen for hours pretending to be working is a terrible thing to do to yourself. Because you're wasting the most precious thing you have, time. Always try to learn and improve yourself.
  • TravisJHunt
    TravisJHunt Posts: 533 Member
    As a manager I can understand your hesitation to run out and say hey I'm bored to your boss. You want to keep the job and announcing you don't have enough to do can seem counter productive. So maybe try this, listen in to what others around you have going on and see if you can't find something you could help out with. Maybe you're a good typer, or a good proof reader, offer up your skills. If none of that works, can you use the computer to expand your learnings. This works better too if you can look up things related to work and learn. Too many people figure they only need to learn what they need to do their job but learning about the company and other things that are involved int he business can be beneficial to career advancement.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    When I get bored at work I hit the MFP forums :smiley:
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    be proactive, and a good employee, and look for additional work to do.....
  • healthy491
    healthy491 Posts: 384 Member
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    healthy491 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.

    not sure what that has to do with you being in an office job over the summer?
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,372 Member
    You don't seem like you want to actually be productive in the work place whether that is work or doing something useful for yourself.

    You'd be a lot happier if you were proactive and productive. Just talk to your manager or co-workers ask for additional work.
  • healthy491
    healthy491 Posts: 384 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.

    not sure what that has to do with you being in an office job over the summer?

    In my country , students who are still in school have an opportunity to have a Summer job in different offices until they go back to school.
    Kinda complicated to explain.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.

    not sure what that has to do with you being in an office job over the summer?

    In my country , students who are still in school have an opportunity to have a Summer job in different offices until they go back to school.
    Kinda complicated to explain.

    ok, so why cant you ask for more work if you're bored?
  • healthy491
    healthy491 Posts: 384 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.

    not sure what that has to do with you being in an office job over the summer?

    In my country , students who are still in school have an opportunity to have a Summer job in different offices until they go back to school.
    Kinda complicated to explain.

    ok, so why cant you ask for more work if you're bored?

    I just dont want to look nosy or annoying ( stupid , I know )
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.

    not sure what that has to do with you being in an office job over the summer?

    In my country , students who are still in school have an opportunity to have a Summer job in different offices until they go back to school.
    Kinda complicated to explain.

    ok, so why cant you ask for more work if you're bored?

    I just dont want to look nosy or annoying ( stupid , I know )

    but you don't mind looking lazy and bored?
  • healthy491
    healthy491 Posts: 384 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.

    not sure what that has to do with you being in an office job over the summer?

    In my country , students who are still in school have an opportunity to have a Summer job in different offices until they go back to school.
    Kinda complicated to explain.

    ok, so why cant you ask for more work if you're bored?

    I just dont want to look nosy or annoying ( stupid , I know )

    but you don't mind looking lazy and bored?

    Good point there haha but tbh most of the other employees look like that as well .. well thanks for your help :)
  • hjlourenshj
    hjlourenshj Posts: 66 Member
    OP didnt ask advice work wise, as one previous said. Try to snack on low calorie food
  • Verdenal
    Verdenal Posts: 625 Member
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    healthy491 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    This
    healthy491 wrote: »
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Study? Read? Ask others if they need a hand? Any filing or archiving need doing? Update spreadsheets? etc etc

    Not so keen on studying and reading .. thanks tho :)

    Then this
    healthy491 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    find a better job....

    Easier said than done when you are student


    Really?

    Before you get all judgemental ,even though you already did , I am a student at a beauty school so what I do is practical work.

    not sure what that has to do with you being in an office job over the summer?

    In my country , students who are still in school have an opportunity to have a Summer job in different offices until they go back to school.
    Kinda complicated to explain.

    ok, so why cant you ask for more work if you're bored?

    I just dont want to look nosy or annoying ( stupid , I know )

    No employer is going to complain if you go in and say, "I have a lot of down time, is there something else I can help with?"

    As an adult, on occasion I've had boring, depressing jobs that required me to be at a computer for hours. The software and Internet access was limited by the company. If there was nothing to do, I read newspapers and Wikipedia. Then I'd read the same Wikipedia article in a foreign language.
  • jessicarobinson00
    jessicarobinson00 Posts: 414 Member
    I think there's a constructive way to say "During down times, is there something you would like me to take care of for you?" Initiative is HUGE and is remembered when it's time for your review....

  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    OP are you looking to maintain or lose weight?
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Sweep the floor. Dust. Ask the boss if there's filing to do. Go online and do tutorials (Word, Excel, etc.)
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    play pokemon go? lol. I get what you mean about not asking for work. It might make the regular employees who aren't just there for the summer feel like you are trying to show them up. I'm guessing you don't care so much about a review since this is just a one-time summer job. Just remember you might need a reference some day.

    I also go in the MFP forums and on another board. I check my twitter feed...I online shop and order my groceries to be delivered...I guess I'm an awful employee. It's a good thing I'm in sales. At my company sales is like the island of misfit toys. We are all a little different. This is my slow time since a lot of the people who would be my buyers are on vacation right now. Luckily, I had marketing book me for some webinars as a "subject matter expert." I was pretty bored too and this is an easy way to get some leads of people who are actually at work.

    I'll be super busy though in about 2 weeks when most people aren't on vacation since kids are going back to school. Looking forward to it.
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