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101 Productive Things To Do When Bored at Work

If you’re a professional, chances are you’ve experienced feeling a little bored at work.

Whether it’s because the tasks have become repetitive or your boss is keeping you from doing anything interesting, boredom can really take its toll on your job performance.

Fortunately, there are plenty of things to do when bored at work that will keep you productive and make time fly by! 

You can always make the most of any situation by doing these things when bored at work. Just make sure to be mindful of how you’re spending that bored time so you don’t get accused of time theft!

101 Productive Things To Do When Bored at Work

1. Get in a quick workout by walking around instead of sitting in your chair.   

Exercise is great for the body and the mind. It gets the blood flowing which can help you be more productive post-walk. This is probably the best way to get some energy back!

If a walk isn’t possible, try these office-friendly stretches that will help you boost the blood flow and work out any kinks in your muscles. Exercise is really the best thing you can do for yourself on any given day.

2. Take a 5 minute personal break.

You know that b-work… break? We don’t take enough of those, do we? Step away from your desk and go get some water. Look at some book reviews, scroll through Instagram, or make plans for Friday night. T

his can give you something to look forward to and help you power through the day! Breaks are also great for your mental health and can help inspire more creative ideas.

Consider having fun during your breaks. If your goal is to recharge so you’re more productive when you return to work, enjoying yourself and giving yourself headspace can go a long way. For example, play a game of FreeCell during your break to relax and giving yourself the energy to refocus on work. 

3. Organize your desk or office space.

A quick desk declutter is a great way to reset your mind and be productive when you’re bored at work! Get rid of all of those old post-it notes. Change your calendar. Make sure all of your pens still work. Swap out some decor.

The next time you feel like you can’t focus, take some time to declutter your desk. It’s one of the important things we often overlook when trying to get refocused.

4. Get a coffee with another bored co-worker.

If you’re bored, chances are someone else you work with is bored too. Why not ping your work best friends and see if they’re up for a coffee at the spot down the street. You can use the time to bounce ideas off of each other or just to catch up!

Has it been a long time since you’ve caught up with your co-workers? It’s a great idea to ask them about new projects and maybe even just how they’re doing! They’ll appreciate it. 

31 Productive Things To Do When Bored at Work

5. Clean up and update your LinkedIn profile.

This is definitely one task a lot us put off. LinkedIn is one of those social media accounts people either love or hate spending time on, but it’s one of those important tasks that matters! Updating our LinkedIn is like updating a public resume. But it could just be the step that propels your next career move!

While you’re at it, why not write some recommendations for others? Or as others for recommendations for you. These endorsements look great on a LinkedIn profile!

6. Digitize your business contacts.

Have a lot of business cards laying around? Turn those cards into LinkedIn connections or use an app to organize them on your phone and get rid of the extra paper hanging around your desk.

You’re much more likely to reach out to someone if you’re connected digitally these days!

7. Go over your schedule for the next six months.

You know the work you’re doing now is going to lead to more work down the road. That means that you’ll have some time before your next promotion or raise. Write out a rough timeline of how you plan on accomplishing these goals and then keep an eye on those deadlines as they come up!

8. Look at your 401(k) contribution.

Is your contribution percentage aligned with what you want to do with the rest of your life? Think about bumping it up if you don’t think you’re going to be able to retire when you’d like. You never know when a recession may hit! Plus, you’ll want to make sure you’re contributing enough to get your employer’s match.

9. Learn a new productivity trick.

There are plenty of tips and tricks out there for getting more done in less time. Read a blog post or two and practice! You’ll be amazed by all of the productivity hacks you’ve been missing out on! 

When you’re bored, it’s the perfect time to go through this list of productive things and improve your methods! We all spend a lot of time getting stuck in daily tasks like work emails without actually improving our time management or making progress on things that move the needle.

10. Write some thank you notes.

Have recent customers or clients you appreciated working with? Send them a thank you note! Receiving a written note is a powerful gesture and they’ll be so thrilled you reached out!

11. Watch a TED talk.

We are big fans of TED talks (see some favorites here). Take a 15 minute break and learn something new. This helps with boredom AND proves that despite your 9-5 job, you’re still an interesting person who’s curious about the world around them. Which is also the kind of employee companies love to have!

12. Take a quick dance break.

Have a place in your office where you can boogie down? If not, put on some headphones and start dancing around! And if anyone cares about what you look like (which they shouldn’t!) just tell them it’s for work.

13. Email someone who inspires you.

You can use your free time at work to network with others in your industry, or connect with an expert on a topic you’re interested in learning more about!

What better way to spend your time than by getting inspired?

14. Look into a new hobby or new skill.

If you’re bored at work, chances are you’ve been working on the same projects and tasks for quite some time. You could use a change of pace to get yourself motivated again! Think about whether there’s any type of hobby that might interest you.

Take an evening class or just start practicing it on your own! Read up on it with online courses, Youtube tutorials, and books about the topic. Talk to friends who do similar things to see if they’d be interested in getting together for regular hang outs. Get out of your comfort zone and  try something new!

15. Make the most of your breaks by getting out of the office and exploring where you work. 

There’s food, drinks, and sometimes even a gym in your office building! Get to know the space you’re in so you can take advantage of it.

Check out new restaurants, coffee shops, and parks nearby so you can ‘wow’ colleagues in the future.

16. Sharpen the skills you have.

Are you a marketer who can’t sell? Try talking to colleagues in the sales department or finding an online course on how to do it better.

Maybe you’re a graphic designer who’s super visual but needs help developing strong communication skills for managing clients. Or you could just need some basics on project management because your output decided to double at the same time your responsibilities did.

Whatever the case may be, we can all spend time strengthen our skills! Try to improve them with a new challenge and use your skills in different ways.

31 Productive Things To Do When Bored at Work

17. Hunt for a new job.  

If you’ve been putting off looking for another job because you think there’s just not enough time in the day, now might be a good time to start!

While you’re updating your LinkedIn or researching a new hobby, make sure you also go on some interviews or fill out applications. The more active you are the better chance there is for something to come through and pay off.

Your current position shouldn’t be your forever position. It’s important that you improve and advance your career

18. Download a book on your phone so you have something read while waiting around for things to happen. 

You could read a career-related book or go for some general motivational non-fiction. Either way, reading helps you get out of your head and into a new place. If you’re reading a career-related book, maybe you can bring something up that you learn in your next meeting!

19. Check in with the people around you.   

How are they doing? Are there any problems that might need to be solved or opportunities for collaboration? Do they have interesting projects you could help with or feedback on something you’re working on?

You could even ask them if they need help with anything. Plus, you’ll show everyone you’re a team player by offering help! This is definitely a great thing about having some spare time. And people are more likely to give you positive reviews when you offer to help them!

20. Listen to a podcast from leaders in your field.

There are so many podcasts out there these days. There’s pretty much guaranteed to be one in your field!  Learning from these industry icons is also a great way to improve your leadership skills

Search on Apple Podcast or Spotify for your industry. Then listen to the top results. You’ll feel super inspired and motivated!

21. Check the news.

Do you really know what’s going on in the world? Don’t just check your Facebook newsfeed or Twitter. Do some research and read up about current events.

Read through an article a day and it will totally change your perspective! 

You can also get more off-the-beaten path by looking into recent scientific discoveries, financial reports, or political updates. Your downtime may not be as boring if it means you can keep up with what’s happening around the world.

22. Take on a new project.

Have you been working on the same team throughout your career? Take this time to explore other teams in your company! You could research a different department and see how you might fit in there.

Keep an eye on job and company listings for your industry. See what other jobs are out there and see what the career path could be like at another company!

23. Write down all of the projects you’ve been working on since joining this team or since starting your career.

Analyze each project. Are there any trends? Can you see how your work has evolved over time?

If there’s anything you can improve on or take away from past projects, write it down and add new ideas to your list of career goals!

24. Do some research into other jobs in your field.

Check out job boards like Glassdoor or Indeed to find out more about what others do in your industry. You can even look up your boss’s job title! 

Find out what skills are required for those jobs and practice them in your free time!

25. Learn the basics of a new language.

We’re lifelong learners at GenTwenty and languages are no exception! Maybe you want to brush up on your Spanish or French from high school, or maybe you’re interested in learning a completely new language.

If anyone around has access to foreign films with subtitles, take them out for group viewing!   Or you can try an online platform like Duolingo and keep it short and sweet! 

26. Keep a list of everything you take on during the day. 

This could be small tasks, errands like taking notes or making a phone call, or just things that get added onto your list throughout the day. Whenever possible, get them out of the way quickly so they don’t weigh down your mind and make you even more bored!

27. Follow up with friends from school or college.

Are you still in touch with anyone who you knew when you were younger? There’s no reason to stop talking just because you don’t go to the same place anymore! This can be a fun way of keeping in touch since you’ve already got some history together.

It’s nice to know someone who understands what you’re going through or can give you advice about your job.

If they’re out of town, why not plan a visit? If the distance is too great for that, try meeting up in the city! Or maybe get them on Skype or video chat!

28. Look into a training that will help you advance your career.

Enrolling in a course or workshop will help you understand what you need to do to get promoted.

You can also learn something new that will let you make a name for yourself and impress your boss!

It’ll be an easy way to stand out and show that  you’re willing to put in the extra effort. Imagine being the rockstar of your office because you learned how to use a new software program!

29. Find out what projects you could be working on. 

If there aren’t any, try making some suggestions. Perhaps something you’ve done in the past could be adapted to fit with a new product or project.

If there’s nothing in mind at the moment, come up with a new project that will help out your company. Is there an idea you’ve had for years? Or something you can improve on from an existing product or service?

You could even give yourself extra work if you feel like it! If you’re bored, think about what else you could be doing. Could each of those be a project you tackle?

30. Leave work early one day. Or take an hour off during lunch.

It’s not that hard to get out earlier if nobody notices! Maybe use the extra time to do something fun with friends or a family member, play a game, or exercise. Everyone needs some time to relax. And if you’re not being productive in the office, maybe you can be productive in your personal life!

31. Make a career vision board.

Do you know what you want your career to look like in five, ten, fifteen years down the road?

Make a vision board with images that represent what you want to achieve.  Make it as detailed as possible!

Check out Pinterest for some inspiration and ideas. If you don’t have enough pictures of your career, try looking through old photos or finding new ones online.

Be realistic in the goals you set yourself. It’s fine if they’re challenging, but if they’re completely unrealistic you may end up getting discouraged. 

Picture yourself as the person who is achieving these goals and visualizing the consequences of success. Write down why you want to achieve your goal, what it will mean for your life, and how it makes you feel to  have that freedom and independence! This can also give you great inspiration for professional development goals!

And here are 70 more ideas for productive things to do when bored at work:

  1. Call a friend or family member and catch up

  2. Listen to an audiobook or podcast

  3. Organize your desk area

  4. Brainstorm ideas for your next project

  5. Take a break and focus on your breathing

  6. Write down some goals for the next few months

  7. Read a book or magazine

  8. Write in a journal or diary

  9. Go for a quick walk around the office

  10. Listen to calming music and do some stretches

  11. Research different topics online that

  12. Look into professional development opportunities

  13. Update your resume

  14. Catch up on emails you haven’t read yet

  15. Learn a new skill or update existing skills with online tutorials

  16. Create a to-do list for the following day

  17. Connect with colleagues about different

  18. Write a blog post or article

  19. Create a vision board of your career aspirations

  20. Research companies you admire and see what they’re up to

  21. Re-evaluate your priorities in the workplace

  22. Look into creative ways to increase productivity

  23. Volunteer for an interesting project

  24. Participate in workplace activities or team-building exercises

  25. Start a conversation with someone you haven’t talked with before

  26. Look up different career paths and what they entail

  27. Brainstorm ways to make your current job easier or more enjoyable

  28. Put together a new project

  29. Start a gratitude list and jot down 3 things you are grateful for each day

  30. Create a playlist with all of your favorite songs from the past and present

  31. Organize files, documents or photos

  32. Update your LinkedIn profile

  33. Catch up on industry news

  34. Look into online courses that you could take

  35. Create a list of career goals you want to achieve in the next 1-2 years

  36. Send an email or message to someone who inspired you in the past

  37. Explore different tools and technologies available to help with productivity ureate a spreadsheet or chart to track progress on your projects

  38. Take an online quiz or assessment to find out what career you should be in

  39. Write down 5 things that make you happy and why they make you happy

  40. Create a list of books, websites, and podcasts that can help with professional development ile a list of networking events, conferences, and seminars you’d like to attend

  41. Create a folder with helpful tutorials or resources related to your job role

  42. Look into different volunteer opportunities at work or in the community

  43. Mind map ways to make improvements in your current role

  44. Draw

  45. Create a list of items to add to your resume

  46. Visit job sites and look for positions that could help advance your career

  47. Take some time to reflect on what you’ve achieved in the past few months

  48. Update your portfolio with current work and projects

  49. Explore different career project

  50. Have a conversation with a colleague about their career goals and aspirations

  51. Organize a work fundraiser

  52. Conduct an analysis on your current role

  53. Write down 5 long-term goals and break them down into smaller goals

  54. Analyze the impact of technology in the workplace

  55. Research new methods for improving teamwork or collaboration

  56. Look into ways to increase efficiency within your team

  57. Participate in a professional development workshop or course

  58. Conduct an assessment of the current workflow in your organization

  59. Create a list of skills that you need to develop further

  60. Practice mindfulness or meditation during breaks

  61. Find new ways to stay motivated and inspired with your work

  62. Compile a list of networking contacts that may be helpful for career advancement

  63. Work ahead

  64. Learn more about other job roles in your company

  65. See if you can get your technology updated

  66. Do a brain dump

  67. Plan out next week’s schedule

  68. Plan out your PTO for the next year

  69. See if you can turn any meetings into emails

  70. Ask your boss for feedback on your performance

Conclusion

These are just a few of the ways you can be more productive when bored at work.

You may find that some will work better than others for your situation, but it’s worth experimenting to see what works best for you and your personality type.

We hope these ideas have given you an idea or two on how to get more done in less time! Which one do you plan on trying first?

About the Author

Nicole Booz

Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.

Website: genthirty.com