How to Be Ineffective When You Work From Home

Want to know what NOT to do when you work from home? Read ahead to find out.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• lack of motivation

1. 
    
   alarm clock - Image by brucebeh

   Ignore your alarm clock for a while and wake up a couple hours late. This is a sure-fire way to get your day off to a rough start when you work from home. That's exactly what we're shooting for.

2. 
    
   laptop - Image by SBray

   Before you get up, grab your laptop and spend an hour or two mindlessly surfing the Internet in bed. Be sure to catch up with your friends on Facebook and update your status. Additionally, you might want to check out the MSN homepage, Slashdot, or Myspace, and/or catch up on all your RSS feeds.

3. 
    
   McDonald's - Image by Editor B

   It's probably around lunch time, now. You may want to consider getting out of bed at this point, so you can get something to eat. Slap together a PB&J sandwich or run out to grab a McRib from McDonald's. Mmmmm that's sure to hit the spot.

4. 
    
   clothes washer - Image by Editor B

   Since you are still in your pajamas (you didn't actually get dressed for the McDonald's drive-thru, did you?), you hadn't realized that all of your clothes are in a dirty heap in the corner of your room. There is absolutely nothing clean to wear. The moment of truth is here--you either have to re-wear dirty clothes or you have to actually do laundry. Since you've been re-wearing this same pile for a week now, you should probably go ahead and wash the clothes.

5. 
    
   paying the bills - Image by jenn_jenn

   After you've managed to get a load of clothes in the wash, you may want to go ahead and pay the bills. After all, you're already late on your water payment, and you wouldn't want your water to be cut off while your clothes are in the washer...

6. 
    
   DVR - Image by rick

   Ah, it's been a long day, but the clothes are in the wash, the bills are paid, and you have a full belly. I guess at this point, it's time to relax and watch some television. Find some Buffy reruns on your DVR, grab some popcorn and a soda, and kick back. You deserve it.

7. 
    
   WoW - Image by chanchan222

   Whew, Buffy is probably getting pretty boring after three hours of non-stop viewing. You know what would be fun? World of Warcraft!!! Azeroth, here I come!

8. 
    
   sleeping - Image by ohsoabnormal

   WoW dungeon raids are always tiring. You should probably get some sleep. I know, it's only 2 a.m., but you've had a long day. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

9. 
    
   !!! - Image by laurenatclemson

   Wait, you didn't actually get any work done today!!! *sigh* Oh well, there's always tomorrow...

10. 
     
    repeat sign

    Rinse. Repeat.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to ineffectively work from home, you have to master the art. Don't expect to execute this perfectly the first time. It takes practice.
• If you have a needy pet or child, he/she can serve as an additional distraction. The more distractions the better.
• Consider turning off your cell phone, logging off all instant messengers and social networks, and ignoring your email. It would have a terribly negative impact on your ineffectiveness if a coworker were to actually get in touch with you.
• I don't recommend actually doing these things... unless you want to be unemployed. :)

Resources

• How to End Your World of Warcraft Addiction

[MyJB]

on 6/22/2009 So true; that is until you learn to do better, which, by the way, isn't easy. 5*

[MarlaineMarie]

on 1/22/2009 Geeeeeeeeeeeeeee - wish I had a lap top, now that I've been thinking about it!

[MarlaineMarie]

on 1/22/2009 Hey! Isn't #2 considered - NETWORKING - ? I don't do it and have been feeling guilty! Yipppppeeeeeee - I don't have to do it.... I don't have to do it....! Thanks! Hehehehehe!

[brantsbabe]

on 1/11/2009 I think all of us who do this can relate in one way or another. It takes discipline when there are kids, laundry, dinner to be made........

[techsavvy]

on 1/10/2009 LOL "I don't recommend actually doing these things... unless you want to be unemployed. :)" too funny!!! Great read, and well written