How to Kill Time at the Office
While many days at work can feel like a never-ending progression of tasks and meetings, there are times when you can have some unexpected downtime. Whether it's a just few minutes between meetings or a half hour at the end of the day, don't be tempted to spend that time playing solitaire on the computer, watching funny videos online or chatting with your colleagues. Instead of goofing off, turn those precious minutes into productive work or organization time that can have big benefits for your career.
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Instructions
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Tidy your desk or work area. Sort your mail, toss unnecessary paper or file documents that you need to keep. Rinse out your coffee cup and put away your office supplies. Spending 10 to 15 minutes straightening out your space can save you time later on when you need to locate something. On the computer, clean up your desktop, moving files into folders or deleting unnecessary files.
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Clean out your email in-box. Chances are you have old emails that you don't need to keep that are taking up space. Delete them or create email folders to organize your correspondence.
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Make a to-do list for the rest of the day or week. Writing down your tasks helps you stay organized and use your time effectively.
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Send a short email to your boss updating him on the status of a project or sharing good news or a positive customer comment. This keeps your boss in the loop and helps remind him of your good work when review time comes around.
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Write a thank-you note. Sending a short, handwritten note to a colleague, customer or business associate helps strengthen relationships and brightens someone else's day.
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Review your calendar for the coming days and make note of any meetings or tasks that need completion. Collect any information that others need so you're prepared for the meeting.
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Brainstorm ideas for an upcoming project. Sometimes just a few moments of unstructured thinking can lead to inspiration.
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Perform a quick Internet search for news articles or studies that pertain to your work. Share them with your colleagues.
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Do something for someone else. Offer to make copies, collate reports or just put on a fresh pot of coffee. Spending a few minutes helping a colleague helps bolster your reputation as a team player.
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Update your online professional profile on sites such as LinkedIn. Search for new connections, update projects that you're working on or books you're reading. Keeping your profile up-to-date benefits both you and your employer.
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Tips & Warnings
If your employer allows personal Internet use, you can kill time by updating your social media, sending email or doing personal tasks but do so sparingly and within the company rules and guidelines.
References
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
