Working from home has a lot of advantages—from being able to work right after waking up to not having to deal with the daily commute.
However, it can feel a bit repetitive, especially when you are cooped up inside your house most of the time. If you catch yourself zoning out during meetings or not feeling too chipper while facing your laptop, then it is one of the signs you are bored at work.
Fortunately, you can break the monotony with these fun activities. We’ve even gone ahead and categorized our suggestions based on what you may want to do for the day!
Invigorating
If you need an energy boost at work, try these activities.
- Staying seated all day can’t be good for anyone. Thus, sneak a bit of workout into your remote work lifestyle with a few desk exercises.
- Of course, nothing beats coffee when it comes to boosting your energy. However, if your daily caffeine intake is already quite high, it may be best to try these coffee alternatives instead.
- Power naps are the way to go! Even a quick 15-minute shut-eye is good enough to increase your energy and improve your work productivity.
- If napping or drinking coffee is not your thing, then perhaps taking a walk may be more up your alley. After all, it is (again) a great way to slip in a little physical activity into your work day.
- One of the advantages of working from home is the freedom to decorate your workspace however you like.
You can also take this opportunity to organize it if it’s already too cluttered. A messy workstation can also potentially hamper your productivity.
Brain Boosting
- Listen to podcasts and audiobooks so that you can cut down on screen time and still keep learning.
- Of course, you can also keep a journal. Writing down your thoughts is a wonderful way to look back and reflect on your day. Having a journal can also serve as a great way to preserve beautiful memories.
- Or if you want, you can also watch a TED talk. They have a wide range of topics and you get to listen to new and interesting perspectives from people from all walks of life.
- You can also study a language or two! Hop on to Duolingo or other similar apps (even Coursera!) for a cursory lesson on a foreign language you’ve been meaning to learn.
- Don’t ignore your tummy! A quick bite of brain-boosting snacks might be just what you need. If you are also quite the chef, then you can try your hand at making these meal plans.
Relaxing
- If you wish, you can simply sit still and do nothing for two minutes. Take this time to just pause and worry about nothing—not your work or other responsibilities.
(There’s also a website called donothingfor2minutes.com, where it compels you to literally do nothing. If you move your mouse, you have to start all over again.)
- In the same vein, you might feel like venting out but not necessarily to a person.
If so, some websites on the Internet let you write whatever’s on your mind. One cool thing about these websites is that they don’t keep a record of your thoughts, so you get to maintain your privacy even after you’ve poured your heart out.
- You can also reach out to a co-worker to talk about your day and other things. You can also discuss the latest happenings or simply catch up on a common interest. Finding someone to talk to, even just for a short while, can relieve stress.
- One of the more fun things to do when you’re bored at work is to look at photos. Go to Pinterest or even other places like the National Geographic photography archives and feast your eyes on the beautiful photos.
- Take care of your indoor (or outdoor) plants. You might find it relaxing to see a bit of green in a bustling city. Plus, it always feels good to take care of a living thing, even if it’s something as simple as a plant.
Upskilling
- While it is not really an obligation, one of the more productive things to do when bored at work is to try and learn a new skill. Upskilling also helps you future-proof your job.
So, take these pockets of time as an opportunity to do something useful.
- We previously mentioned listening to audiobooks. But you can also read an actual book.
For some career inspiration, read books published by CEOs, motivational speakers, and other individuals who have made a significant contribution to their respective fields.
- Take a look at your LinkedIn profile (if you have one). See which accounts you have been following and what have they been talking about.
You can also use this time to network and connect with industry leaders and learn from them.
- Find a mentor who can share their wisdom with you, whether it be about work or just life in general. Or conversely, you can find a junior employee to mentor. Doing so might make you feel fulfilled that you helped someone reach their own goals.
- Of course, you can create your own S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely) goals. These aims and objectives will be your guide as you make decisions for taking your career further.
Final Word
There are a lot of fun activities you can do to fill in the lulls within your workday. All you need to have is a bit of creativity. Having a remote online job also helps because it grants you a little more wiggle room in terms of schedule flexibility.
On that note, if you are thinking of working from home, check out Remote Staff’s job listings. The job board is constantly updated, so you can definitely find a wide variety of positions that might fit you and keep you happily busy.
Remote Staff has also been in the industry for 15 years and has given work-from-home opportunities to countless Filipino remote workers. Take this as a sign and register with us today!
