Bored at Work? Simple Ways to Fight the Z’s
Imagine this: you’ve just finished your major project at work for the week. After admiring your accomplishment you begin to think, “now what?” To help you fight the Z’s, here are a couple tips that will help you stay productive, even on the slowest days!
Take the opportunity to learn
Chances are if you’re bored at work, you’ve just started a new career and could still be in the training process. Taking the opportunity to learn about your company and your industry is one way to keep yourself entertained and productive. By researching your company and industry, you’re familiarizing yourself, making it easier to transition into your new role. If you know all you need to know about your company, see if they offer tutorial software like lynda.com to further your expertise in your position.
Organize your work area or computer
Making sure you have a clean work area might be the most important tip when starting a new project. Taking the time to sort through those papers, supplies, or waste materials will ensure that you’re ready for your next task. If you’re at a computer, take the time to organize your documents, emails, and spam folder. You may have overlooked an important email, or it could have ended up in your spam folder. If you have folders on your computer, go through them to see what you no longer need, freeing space on your computer.
Digitize important documents
While filtering through your computer, try digitizing important documents for reassurance in case the original document gets misplaced. Create different folders for different categories. If you have collected business cards from seminars or work events, now would be a good time to digitize those. Once you have uploaded them to your computer, categorize them. For example: printing, financial, internet, etc. This would make it easier to find the right person for the service you’re inquiring about. Tired of having all your passwords scrambled on a piece of paper? Try digitizing those too! Create an easy-to-read spreadsheet to keep all your passwords in one place.
Track your accomplishments
Evaluate all you’ve accomplished at your job thus far! By doing so, you can establish what goals still need to be met. Try setting a 30-day work challenge for yourself to achieve one of those goals you haven’t met yet. Make a checklist to check off your daily accomplishments and a timeline to achieve your goals according to your plan.
Take a walk
If all else fails, take a walk! Take the time to stretch your legs, greet your coworkers, and, most importantly, lend a helping hand! Ask around to see if any of your colleagues need help with any projects or need any assistance at the moment. This may help occupy some time and might even keep you busy for the rest of the week.
