Search This Blog


  •  

Our Guest Blogger

  • Jane Allerton is an innovative marketing professional with global experiences in the pharmaceutical, engineered materials and IT industries. In her work, she has been able to combine her technical strengths with human form factor and ergonomic studies. Jane earned her dual BA in Chemistry and German from Rutgers as well as her MBA after an expatriate assignment in Germany. She has also worked in Paris.

Monster Blogroll

Del.icio.us Links

Join the People List

Get this Blog

About Comments

  • Comments are moderated; they should appear on the Monster Blog within one business day.

Disclaimer

  • Although the Monster Blog contains several individual voices, it is still part of Monster, and use of the blog is governed by Monster's Terms of Use. By viewing and/or contributing articles or comments to the Monster Blog, you agree to Monster's Terms of Use.

Feedback

Legal Stuff

« Do You Have a Prayer at Work? | Main | Need Help Paying for College? Consider One of These 10 Scholarships »

May 03, 2007

Top 10 Ways to Goof Off at Work, from the Twitterati

Some of us work hard. Some of us play hard. Some of us work hard and play hard. And some of us -- make that all of us, from time to time -- play hard when we should be working hard. I think you know what I'm talking about: Goofing off at work.

Yes, whether it's because you're easily distracted, unomotivated or just need to take a break, there comes a point in the day when the work you're being paid to do is put to the side in favor of a more entertaining or less-stressful activitiy.

But since you don't always want to outright announce your not-so-honorable actions to your coworkers and boss, you also need to create the appearance, at least, that you're actually engaged in company business. So how do you do it?

I once again sought the creative help of my Twitter cohorts, who came up with these top 10 clever suggestions on how to look busy at work -- even when you're not:

  1. AndyCaster: Multiple computers with multiple monitors with Word, Excel sheets and email up...and [your] laptop under the desk doing "real" work!

  2. IfNotNowWhen: Make lists and lists and lists.... Looks even better if you make them in Excel.

  3. Mdy: Keep two docs open, and flip back and forth between them.

  4. Mdy: Get up every few mins to pace around your desk, as if in deep thought. Sigh loudly every few minutesas if tackling a tough issue.

  5. Mdy: Hang a "do not disturb; genius at work" sign outside your door, if you have an office, or at your cubicle's entrance.

  6. DougH: Position yourself as the organization's "social media/Internet expert." Of course, that involves a lot of research and immersion.

  7. LeeHopkins: Use Word 2007 as your blog editor, and have workmates convinced that you are working on a proposal while you are blogging about the downfall of your organization!

  8. theLunatic: Hold a piece of paper in one hand while staring intently at a computer screen.

  9. theLunatic: Have loads of paperwork on your desk.

  10. ScottMonty: Try the George Costanza philosophy of work.

How would you add to this list?

Share this post: Digg, StumbleUpon, del.icio.us, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Bookmark and Share

Posted by Bryan on May 3, 2007 at 12:09 PM in New Media , The Daily Grind | Permalink | Comments (25) | TrackBack (0)

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515e7c69e200d83534056569e2

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Top 10 Ways to Goof Off at Work, from the Twitterati:

Comments

Never, ever, walk anywhere without carrying a filefolder.

Keep at least one sheet inside it; in a pinch, scribble a note on it and mumble 'must not forget that.'

Posted by: Charlie on the PA Turnpike | May 4, 2007 8:23:54 AM

Say you have to go to the bathroom to take a dump but only to sit on the toilet and take a quick nap. If someone calls for you just say you have been having digestive problems from some food that you ate.

Posted by: Jeremy | May 6, 2007 9:37:05 PM

If you like to arrive late in the morning, leave a cup of coffee and a bakery bag on your desk the night before, and keep your computer on. Everyone will think you're there already.

Posted by: wilma | May 16, 2007 10:03:47 AM

We have a basketball hoop in our section as well as a pool table, ping pong table, dart board, etc... in our break room


Goof off at work?

Not us...

"Never, ever, walk anywhere without carrying a filefolder.

Keep at least one sheet inside it; in a pinch, scribble a note on it and mumble 'must not forget that.'
"

Nice, might haffta borrow that one!

Posted by: Rich | May 16, 2007 9:33:48 PM

Oh yes the file folder...only whenever we are trying not to get sucked into the odd jobs or problems that come up, we take a clipboard and then leisurely stroll throught the workarea, taking notes from time to time. Of course the "clipboard" designates you as an important person. How you can use it to your advantage is your challenge for the day!!

Geaorge C

Posted by: George | May 17, 2007 10:33:18 AM

Oh yes the file folder...only whenever we are trying not to get sucked into the odd jobs or problems that come up, we take a clipboard and then leisurely stroll throught the workarea, taking notes from time to time. Of course the "clipboard" designates you as an important person. How you can use it to your advantage is your challenge for the day!!

George C

Posted by: George | May 17, 2007 10:34:19 AM

ALWAYS carry a work related paper or item in your hand and have your work related question or statement ready to execute at a second's notice when shooting the breeze with a co-worker. When you detect "management" switch smoothly to these work related questions and responses. (Give your co-worker a heads up in advance so their confused look will not give you away.) Even if you only shoot the breeze once in your career that is when the President of the company, who you have never met, will walk in to your work area, be ready.

Posted by: etepsnewo | May 17, 2007 10:51:55 AM

The key to goofing off on the internet is to set your taskbar to auto-hide, so your nosy boss can't see which windows you have open.

Posted by: Jess | May 17, 2007 11:45:34 AM

Brilliant- yes appearances do seem to matter more than accomplishments. At least with mediocre management.

If I am at my desk early or on time and leave late- it doesn't seem to matter what I do or don't get done- The rule of minimum to keep things going seems to apply - State jobs?

Ping pong- oh wonderful- way to paddle ideas back and forth :)

Hey we all want to play- and yes that can be brilliant actually- because IDEAS do flow more easily with movement-

OH- who needs filefolders anymore - I guess many use PDA's (not of affection) to pretend to be engaged in important memo tracking.

Posted by: AnonAli | May 17, 2007 2:21:14 PM

How about just WORKING? Goofing off will catch up to you sooner or later...

Posted by: Bruce | May 17, 2007 9:53:52 PM

Thanks for the wonderful reminder of how much work sucks. Does anyone really expect anyone to be consistently working, staring at a computer screen for a full 8 hours/day? Oh right, people in the working world.

I was WAY more efficient in college when I could take breaks as I pleased. I could write a 5 page paper in an hour, and now it takes me 3 days due to lack of motivation and a true loathing for having to sit in the same place for such extended periods of time. Argh...

Posted by: Ryan from the Office | May 18, 2007 11:53:22 AM

Send something to the printer in a few copies, then stand by the printer like your waiting for important documents to print.

Posted by: Sammy | May 18, 2007 1:12:36 PM

Hmm...forgive me for being office-illiterate, but are these really "10 ways to goof off"? The title suggests I'd find several cool and fun things to do to blow off steam or simply take a break from the corporate humdrum and monotone world of "report, type, print, repeat."

These are just "slack-off" disguises. Throw me a freakin' bone here people. Paper Football and Trash-Can Basketball are getting old.

Posted by: whiskywallace | May 18, 2007 3:27:45 PM

Whisky:

Perhaps we should have titled the post "Top 10 Ways to Slack Off at Work"

Why don't you add some of the ways you blow off corporate steam here in the comment thread. Could be useful for others.

Posted by: Bryan Person, Monster Blogger | May 18, 2007 5:46:27 PM

Close your door halfway while doing your work! Get my point???

Posted by: busyworker | May 19, 2007 5:30:28 PM

Try copying a book, then reading the copied pages at your desk. Looks like you are doing research.

Posted by: Polly | Jun 5, 2007 11:37:13 AM

But always remember the golden rule of goofing off.

Get the job done first THEN screw around!!!

Posted by: ¿½ ? | Jun 5, 2007 11:12:33 PM

Interesting points of slacking off. Of course you also have the employers views of being under-employed, etc. Some jobs just don't have enough work for intelligent work horses. They literally pay to have a "body" sit for their beck and call. And then complain that you're slacking. I found the best way to avoid what I call "crap" work, which is finding old files that are about 50 years old, to actually doing "something" is to write your own procedures for your job description. It keeps you "busy" and you can help someone else out if you are out for any reason. It also helps your typing and keeps your brain working. Good luck!

Posted by: pantherspaz | Jun 6, 2007 8:11:51 PM

put the sports section of the newspaper into a file folder before taking it to the bathroom stall for a good read.

Posted by: oopsie | Jun 6, 2007 10:15:24 PM

Good Lord how did this question and the responses to it wind up on Monster. Any day at work spent TRYING to look busy is a long, boring and unproductive day. Go ask someone who may need assistance if you may help them out. They will remember you for it. Let your supervisor know that you have completed your work and they may view you as efficient. Or, as one response stated that you are underemployed or maybe you don't know your job. ASK AND LEARN! If you are goofing off your coworkers or your supervisor WILL notice; SOMEONE will notice and dislike you for it. This is not an appropriate article for a career website.

Posted by: Shelby R. | Jun 7, 2007 5:32:52 AM

Not sure whether to take most of these posts seriously or not! I certainly hope that any goofing off is being done "responsibly." If you've been working hard on things and need a SHORT break, that's one thing... but if you do more goofing off than working, shame on you!

Maybe I'm just being old-fashioned, but I'm really tired of working hard and constantly finding so many co-workers who take almost any opportunity they can to slack-off. No, I'm not perfect. I occasionally check my personal email or chat with a co-worker for a few minutes, but for the most part I do what I am being paid for - I work. The only time I went to the bathroom and fell asleep was when I was so exhausted I couldn't help it!

Posted by: AdminLady1 | Jun 7, 2007 11:08:22 PM

I have an employee at work that is a master of this "looking busy" epidemic. Another thing he does above and beyond this to look busy is he spreads out a bunch of papers across his desk and pulls a file up on the computer while he takes his personal phone calls.
This is all good stuff if your just having a lazy day but if you do this often enough you become a joke to the rest of the staff and management too.
Hope you don't depend on that income!

Posted by: cognizant | Jun 9, 2007 11:23:16 AM

We actually had a guy leave his computer on, his sport
coat on his chair and a half can of pop and chips at his
desk? He had already taken a job in Akron moved his family
and no one knew it. He called our boss from Akron giving his
resignation over the phone!

Posted by: Jim | Jun 9, 2007 11:39:36 AM

Here's a bunch of sneaky ways to get away with slacking off. Definitely worth a check if you have a nosy boss.

http://sdeviations.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-slack-off-at-office.html

Posted by: Carma B | Nov 30, 2007 10:45:34 AM

Well looking busy is all good, but how about SOUNDING busy? You know the boss is lurking around somewhere. He does not hear anything from your area and pops his head over to see whats going on. My website just makes typing and mouse clicking sounds in a loop that lets them know that you are working, even if your just silently checking your email. idlekeyboard.com

Posted by: John | Oct 21, 2008 6:48:55 PM

Post a comment