Things to Do When Bored at Work

Huge list of some great ideas to add to your things to do checklist

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Everyone should make a list that you should set out to accomplish.

List of stuff to do

I love me some list of stuff to do. Life goes so quick but it is still a good idea to put together a list of fun stuff you want to accomplish. Here are some TThings to Do When Bored at Work items I have now:

  • Check Your Daily Tasks
  • Review your Investments
  • You may find a few blog posts or resources that could jumpstart your own work and provide you with fresh ideas
  • Improve Your Recall
  • Make your LinkedIn summary more creative
  • Record Those Business Cards
  • Actually clean your laptop
  • Read about how to build a more inclusive team, company, and workforce
  • Starting a do-good program at your office is a great way to show you have management potential even if you're a manager—yet
  • Reach out to some of those new contacts on LinkedIn about setting up a time
  • Find someone who has an aspirational career and ask them what they think you should work on in your own career to climb the ladder
  • Start by reading about what it's like to navigate white workplaces as a Black woman and what it's like to job search as a Black woman, and how you can support Black women leaders
  • Regardless, shoot them an email and ask if they want to connect in the next few weeks
  • Write some SMART goals for your career and life
  • Max out your skills list
  • Find More About Your Industry
  • Download this skills sheet to add 50 of them to your profile ASAP
  • Why not take advantage of this downtime to try a new to-do method?
  • Consider our lists of the best self-help books
  • Even if you’re an A-player (and how do you know, really? Is there an A-player test? (No, not “a player”
  • Organize your files
  • Pick a newsletter that you'll actually open, either specific to your industry or women-focused
  • Start a recycling program at your office
  • They love you
  • Learn to Speed Read
  • Then you’d have even more time on your hands to…read more things
  • So why not do it at work? This doesn’t necessarily mean do all of your budgeting, but it could be a good time to review your investment options, your 401k plan or your overall savings
  • Make Meal Plans and a Grocery List
  • We have a list of our favorites leadership books here, but you can also find all sorts of options on Audible
  • Take an online class or course
  • Just ask them how everything's going
  • Learn a new program / learn some new shortcuts in a program
  • It’s the socially acceptable way to be like, “Look I’m wasting time but in a manner that makes me look like I’m doing something important
  • Coming up with a few new ideas, even if they aren’t immediately put to use, shows initiative and a desire to contribute
  • Watch a Ted Talk
  • But we all had the same morning routine
  • If you don't have one, find a mentor
  • Take the time to be a mentor to another woman
  • Organize Your Desk and Declutter
  • Or consider moving your files to Dropbox
  • 43, now's the time to start thinking about how and when you'll ask
  • Make some quick profile updates that will improve your career
  • Take a Walk
  • Get more strategic about your social accounts
  • It can help your motivation, enthusiasm and relieve stress even if you’re not at your top physical peak
  • Reach out to someone you admire on social
  • Now that you know what's in there, make a list of what you need
  • We think they're brilliant
  • Start preparing your ask for a raise
  • Build a presentation for an idea you have to show in your next team meeting or one-on-one with your boss
  • Don’t let your team down
  • Organize your desk drawers
  • The beauty of technology is that there are now tons of networking apps out there
  • Update your passwords
  • What’s one way to do that? Tell others what you know
  • 7325% of the population hates working in Excel
  • Or if you’re on that conference call and can leave the immediate area, do a few leg lifts or touch your toes
  • Make a "to read" folder in your inbox
  • Check in with your network
  • Just hobbies
  • Sort of like the point above, decluttering and cleaning up can help you focus, creates a positive team environment and not to mention looks good for any potential customers, clients or vendors who happen to be in the office that day
  • 1 and write some notes as well? They’ll appreciate your thoughts
  • Or just try this subtle to-do list tweak
  • Download an audiobook to listen to later on your commute home
  • So if you’re looking for something to do or pitch in, check your daily tasks in your project management software
  • Delete anything personal from your work computer
  • Swap out your LinkedIn headshot and cover image
  • If not, it's still worth researching and maybe even pitching a great opportunity to your boss
  • Read Something Important
  • Write an email to your boss letting her know you want to discuss some new responsibilities
  • Come up with a logical structure and clean it alllll up
  • We'll wait
  • But the trick is to also get strategic about engaging, commenting, and liking as well
  • Delete any downloaded photos, notes, or emails
  • Share some of the career-inspiring articles you read today on your LinkedIn
  • Clean off your desk
  • Upgrade your to-do lists
  • Update your email signature
  • Run all those updates
  • Or start a women's group!
  • Find some great books to inspire your career
  • Do some research into conferences or professional development opportunities
  • Follow their example, why don't ya?
  • Mentoring other women is both essential and a great way to build skills as a leader
  • Practice Your Current Skills
  • Then go shopping for them this weekend
  • Clean
  • Better yet, subscribe to some career-inspiring YouTube channels
  • Research your salary
  • See, science
  • You could use a sticky note or get organized with ClickUp (we prefer the latter!
  • Or research a networking opportunity
  • Take everything off of it, pull out the spray cleaner, and give the whole thing a nice wipe down
  • Daydream
  • Connect with professionals you admire
  • Here’s a very official post on how walking improves your mind that explains it all if you’re not convinced
  • These women-run podcasts are great, too
  • Download one (or severalof our resources
  • Go through your spam folder
  • Think About Long-Term Strategy
  • Seems worth it
  • All good things for self-improvement
  • Write Thank You Messages
  • Journal
  • And then, write an intimidation list
  • We all deserve a little downtime
  • Whatever it is you do, find a way to practice it when the pressure is not on
  • Make a "to do someday" folder in your inbox
  • Hence why you should try your own intimidation list
  • Do the Dishes at Work
  • Try a new email productivity method
  • Download a professional networking app
  • Email a colleague or mentor to ask what skills they think you should acquire
  • Make it sparkle
  • Read some articles on leadership tactics
  • First up: Career Contessa's YouTube, duh
  • Think of a new responsibility or project you want to tackle, then create a pitch to deliver
  • Plan to master at least one new time management techniques
  • Take this chance to prove yourself
  • And then request some informational interviews
  • Make sure to send a personalized message explaining why you're reaching out
  • If you don't have a mentor currently, spend some time finding one
  • And throw all those rogue Post-It note wrappers and half-used utensil packs away
  • Or how to combat an innate hiring bias
  • Make a list of all the hobbies you'd be curious to try
  • The next time you're bored at work, you can open them up
  • And better yet, do it by hand
  • Research a new technique or approach you can use for your work
  • Help Out Your Colleagues
  • Whatever, just make sure you exercise and move around
  • Here's a comprehensive guide to all of our own courses
  • Subscribe to a new podcast
  • Sometimes we just need to let loose
  • Subscribe to a new industry-focused and/or women-focused newsletter
  • Share Your Expertise
  • Stop saying you don't have enough time
  • Or maybe
  • Organize Your Email
  • Stretch or Exercise at Your Desk
  • Commit to a new habit: cleaning up your desk every night before you leave
  • Unsubscribe from 10 newsletters
  • Request recommendations (and give some in return!
  • We also have a LinkedIn-centric course that you might want to sign up for
  • Edit your LinkedIn profile based on a recruiter's advice
  • Well, now you have the free time, because you’re looking to be productive even in your boredom
  • Then give it a hard reboot
  • Review Your Schedule 2 to 3 Months Out
  • Here are some exercises to help your brain
  • And a list of what you want
  • Meditate or Pray
  • You need to stretch and move around a bit, even for 5 minutes
  • And fostering team collaboration
  • It’s the person who gets things done
  • But I think you can handle it
  • Think: email courses on content marketing or SEO
  • How convenient
  • This may trigger some other ideas to work on to be prepared or just help you start your to-do list
  • There are lots of smart people talking on there
  • Schedule Coffee with a Colleague
  • Consider thinking of your "time" in weeks instead of days
  • Anyway, don’t make the same mistake and carve out a few minutes to clean up
  • Or your productivity via the Rule of 3
  • The worst is impulse grocery buying because you’re hungry
  • Learn a New Language
  • Even the best have to keep their skills sharp to stay on top
  • Watch some career-inspiring TED talks
  • Follow some positive Instagram accounts
  • Write to a professional contact to suggest a (virtualcoffee




TThings to Do When Bored at Work

Post of the list - TThings to Do When Bored at Work