Are you bored at work? If so, it’s a good time to get productive! In this post, we will cover 30 productive things you can do when you’re bored at the office. These are all easy and quick tasks that anyone can complete in just a few minutes. I guarantee this will be the last time you are bored at work!
So what are some of these tasks? We’ll share some of the best ways to remain productive at work like taking on small projects for your boss, organizing your desk area, or working on your own self-development. There’s no need to let boredom lead to laziness!
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Where Will You Be Five Years From Today?
Where Will You Be Five Years From Today is literally one of the best personal development books I have ever stumbled upon. It was introduced to me by a mentor who completed an older version of the book many years ago. Most of what he wrote down in the book at the time has since come to fruition.
As I heard his story of wanting to earn 7 figures a year, be in a top position at his company and some other crazy goals, I knew the power of writing your goals and dreams down was real.
Since he went through this book, almost all of his goals had been accomplished. He had one left and he was actually going to achieve it the following month.
I immediately ordered the book on Amazon and began working through it when I got it two days later (thank you, Prime!).
If there is one important thing you take away from this post I hope you order this book and add this to the top of your list of productive things to do when you’re bored at work.
“A dream without a plan is just a wish.” – Using this book will ensure that all of your dreams become reality because you have written them down and made a plan.
Make a Vision Board
Who doesn’t love making a vision board and bringing your dreams and goals to life?? It’s the best thing ever!
My husband’s family started making vision boards at the start of each new year together and I freaking love it!
My daughter even made one for herself and it was the cutest! Even little kids who have crazy dreams need to make them visual so they can learn that anything really is possible if you believe!
If you need something productive to do at work when you’re bored, this is a great team-building project as well! Bonus points if your whole team puts them up on the wall for the entire year!
Here’s my vision board from earlier this year!
Listen to an Audiobook
This is another great idea for when you need something different to do during the day. This is an especially great option for times when you are performing menial tasks that don’t take too much brainpower.
Audible.com, Amazon.com, and Audiobooks.com are three great audiobook subscription services.
Listen to a Podcast
Podcasts are an excellent way to learn new information or keep up with what’s going on in your specific industry. You can search for a Podcast by topic or niche and once you find one you like, you can subscribe to the channel so you are always notified of new content.
You can also find a podcast on just about any topic or interest from cooking, to design, to education.
Podcasts are often more digestible than listening to an hour-long radio show and you get the added benefit of being able to take notes as you listen.
Listen to Ted Talks
There are so many amazing Ted Talks out there that you can benefit from both personally and professionally. You can listen to them on your own time or at work especially if it’s related to your career or a project you’re working on.
Ted Talks can be the best way to learn something new that is both inspiring and educational. Here are some amazing Ted Talks I think everyone should listen to regardless of their career path:
–Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action (or really anything by Simon Sinek because I’m obsessed with him!)
–Stacey Abrams: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself About Everything You Do
–Brene Brown: The Power of Vulnerability
–Cameron Russell: Looks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m a Model.
–Robert Waldinger: What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study of Happiness
–Shawn Achor: The Happy Secret to Better Work
–Celeste Headlee: 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation
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Work on Your Time Management Skills
A productive way to spend your downtime is by improving your time management skills.
You may be bored at work because you’re struggling with organization or prioritizing tasks, so why not take this opportunity to figure out what’s holding you back and how to make it better?
There are a lot of apps that can help improve productivity in these areas – some offer reminders while others have charts for tracking goals and the number of hours worked each day. Take care to find one that works best for you!
I personally use and love Asana for task and project management and Toggl for time tracking to see where time is being wasted.
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Break Out of Your Comfort Zone
Some people use their free time as an excuse not do anything productive but if your boredom stems from feeling uncomfortable, don’t let fear hold you back! Break through those barriers by trying new things and engaging with new people.
Learn a New Skill
Learning a new skill is not only a benefit to you, but can also be a benefit to your employer.
During your one on ones with your boss, bring up the skill you are interested in and see if they would be willing to let you have some dedicated time during work to learn that new skill.
Read a Book
This sounds like it’s right up there with watching TV but reading can actually improve your concentration and help you retain information for longer periods of time.
A lot of people tend to feel that they don’t have enough time in their day, so why not get some free study sessions by using the few minutes during a break or lunch to read.
Take an Online Course
Again, if a course can enhance your performance at work or help you learn something new, why not try it?
There are a lot of online courses available to people with limited free time or who feel that they can’t take the time off work. A lot of courses are at your own pace and Udemy offers a broad range of topics at a reasonable cost.
Some employers even offer tuition reimbursement for employees so don’t be shy about asking your boss if they would cover part of this cost!
Start a New Project
If you’re finding yourself with free time at work, ask your boss or peers if they could use help with a project.
This may also be the perfect time to start that new project that you’ve been meaning to get around to! It will help keep your mind active and if all goes well, might even lead to a promotion or raise! So be sure to knock it out of the park!
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Learn a New Language
How awesome would it be to learn a new language during your spare time at work?
In the age of technology, there are so many opportunities to learn a new language for free or at a low cost. It’s never been easier!
Why not add to your resume by learning something that will make you more valuable in the workplace?
Buyer’s Guide covers the top language learning apps of 2021.
Take Up Yoga Classes Again
Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve taken up yoga classes but now is as good as ever. Not only does practicing yoga help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression but it can also help clear any mental blocks you may have while at work.
I’m not saying to actually take a yoga class during work hours, but if you’re feeling less than productive during your workdays, maybe adding in some exercise could help improve your overall productivity.
Take a Mental Health Break
Our mental health is so important and we should be taking care of it even at work. If you find yourself getting frustrated at work, it’s probably best to take a breather and take an extra 5 minutes to focus on your mental health.
Take a quick walk around the office or outdoors if you can. Even just a quick break can make you way more productive than letting your mental health suffer for the rest of the day.
Reconsider Your Goals
It can be easy to lose sight of what we want as our life progresses and gets more complicated. Take the time to refocus on your personal and professional goals. It may even be time to adjust them if they have changed over the last few months or years.
Be open when your boss about what your goals are so as they see opportunities they will instantly think of you.
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Declutter Your Desk/Workspace
Who doesn’t need to declutter their desk? This is actually a very important productive thing to do when you’re bored at work.
No one can effectively work and be mentally focused if their workspace is cluttered with distractions.
Make it a habit to declutter and clean your workspace at least once a week; including your desk drawer where things can be hidden. You’d be surprised at how much better you’ll feel.
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Google Chrome Extension: Productivity Booster
I would recommend installing a productive chrome extension.
A productivity booster is something I’ve personally used and have loved so far. It gives me an overview of my tasks for the day, lets you set reminders and breaks, and tracks your time spent on specific projects to help you understand how productive you’re being with your work hours (great for freelancers).
There are plenty available in the Google Play Store but this is just what has been a great tool for me. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it right? This app will also give you little pep talks throughout the day which can be super helpful if you need a reminder of how awesome you are!
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Write in a Journal
Why not? I know this isn’t as popular anymore and we definitely don’t journal to document our lives, but why not write down your feelings and document your life for future generations?
Even if it’s just a few sentences or you are only using a Gratitude Journal, it’s still a great way to get your thoughts out on paper and clear your mind so you can be more productive at work.
Find Tasks to Delegate
It’s so easy to fall into a trap where we think everything needs our personal touch. Reach out and find daily tasks that you can delegate to your team members or other departments.
Don’t be afraid of delegating some work, it will make you more productive!
Start & Finish Your To-Do List
To-do lists just make me happy! Who doesn’t love the satisfaction of checking off things you need to get done? I LOVE IT!
Writing out a list of what needs to get done whether on paper or in a task management system like Asana (love!!!), write down what needs to get done and then do the things!
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Work On Your Professional Development
Take the extra time to identify an area of improvement and work on your professional development in that area. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and find new ways to improve. Your employer will appreciate the effort and you’ll have something productive to show for your time.
If this is something your employer can benefit from, be sure to include it in your goals during a one on one or review so you can also work on the development during work.
Research Career Options
You may want to understand your career path or options at your current place of employment. Ask your supervisor or HR department for some information on how to build a career path and what action items you need to achieve to advance you in that direction.
You may also find it valuable to consider a new job or career path. Use the time to dream about your ideal career because we don’t always get a lot of time to do that and dreaming can make a huge difference in our lives.
Watch Valuable YouTube Videos
Now, I am definitely not suggesting to just watch any random YouTube videos during work time. I am suggesting you find some valuable videos that teach you something that can help improve you as a person or your skills which make you a better employee.
Watching a YouTube video can prove to be a very productive thing to do when you’re bored at work.
Be a Better Team Player
You can try to be a better team player during work time. You can play some games with your colleagues, take part in their lunchtime discussions or take the time to actively listen to them.
This is a productive thing to do when bored at work because now you’re involving your peers and building your team up which is always something your employer can appreciate.
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Ask for Feedback
Take the time to ask for feedback regularly from your peers, direct supervisor, and even others you interact with often.
Ask those people for feedback in certain areas or ask them to identify one area you can improve. This alone can help you find great things to work on and can help build new goals.
Learn More about Your Company
Take the time to learn more about your company and its policies.
Many companies have a knowledge base or an intranet site that can give you information on topics including diversity, benefits, and other HR-oriented items. This is a productive thing to do when bored at work because now you’re keeping up with what’s going on at your company which will help in many ways down the line like promotions, coaching, feedback, etc.
Another great way to learn about your company is by browsing their website, social media accounts or asking those that have been there a long time to tell you some cool stories from the past.
Staying engaged with your company can create a higher level of respect for what you do and who you work for.
Learn More About Your Industry
If there are certain aspects of your industry that interest you then take some time every day to research them further so they stay fresh in your mind for future discussions around those topics.
Some industries are very unique and the more you learn about them, the more valuable you are as an employee.
Update Your LinkedIn Profile
It’s important to always have a current LinkedIn profile. You never know when someone may be seeking out your particular set of skills or if a new opportunity is out there that’s perfect for you.
Even if you don’t regularly post or share on LinkedIn, it’s not a bad idea to keep your “digital resume” updated and network with others.
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Brush Up Your Resume
Brush up on your resume and make sure it’s updated. Ask your direct report or other peers what skills you excel at and add those to your resume. Other people always identify new skills you didn’t even think of!
You can also use this time to create cover letters for any positions open and save them to an easily accessible folder by name for easy reference later on.
Schedule a One on One with Your Boss
Always try to build the relationship you have with your direct report. Successful people know that having a good relationship with those above you will always benefit you in the long run.
They usually have more insight on company changes and if you are open and honest with your goals and career path, they can be a huge advocate of yours if an opportunity comes up.
Having one on one meetings is such a great way to be productive when you’re bored at work.
Never Run out of Productive Things To Do When Bored at Work
Next time you find yourself bored at work, use some of these creative ideas to be productive instead!
Doing anything productive while bored translates into doing something productive overall so why not make use of your time? Whether it’s learning how to learn faster (which will help any career where knowledge acquisition is important), practicing new languages or refocusing on your goals, it’s better to be productive and propel yourself forward than to be bored and stuck where you’re at forever.
Don’t be lazy at work even if you feel you’d rather be bored while getting paid to do nothing. Invest time into yourself and into your company and I promise you’ll accomplish more than you ever thought was possible.
If you have any new ideas of productive things to do when bored at work, I’d love to hear in the comments below!
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
