How do you cope with a boring job?

tb52 · 2018-03-06T14:57:09.000Z

Those of you who are bored with your work, even if you’re busy, how do you cope?

brad · 2018-03-06T15:10:24.000Z

spiceworks community

bryangill · 2018-03-06T15:21:43.000Z

Spiceworks Community and Training | Microsoft Learn

tylerparsons2 · 2018-03-06T15:23:22.000Z

I was just thinking the same thing. Normally I try to learn something new or get more familiar with some new tech but lately I just don’t seem to be able the motivation for these productive outlets. So like Br@d said, Spiceworks sure helps.

@brad

kelsea-for-pcm · 2018-03-06T15:24:17.000Z

Not talking about my current job, but in the past, I’ve taken care of things that I need to take care of outside of work, like scheduling appointments or paying bills. Gave me more free time when I’d leave the boring job!

jeff-varonis · 2018-03-06T15:25:33.000Z

Find a new job. Do something different!

I was in Support and moved up through the management ranks and back in my career. Varonis gave me an opportunity to work in Product Marketing and there are no more boring days!

onerustycar · 2018-03-06T15:28:03.000Z

If the job is boring because there is little to do, Spiceworks. Some years ago I had to hang out at a site site for four hours a day for six weeks to support the stores equipment, mostly I just sat there waiting for something to brake. It was a good job but it could be very, very slow.

If it is a job that is just very mundane but requires my attention, i.e. punching down a few hundred network jacks then I put on Pandora and try to get a rhythm going to bust out the job. Sometimes I put on a documentary on youtube and just listen to it with my phone in my pocket and work. I recommend anything by Simon Whistler on youtube.

harry1028 · 2018-03-06T15:28:48.000Z

Music

keithbarowicz · 2018-03-06T15:28:58.000Z

Planning my escape

If you’re bored at work and doing nothing, you should ask for more work. If you’re bored at work and busy, that’s a bad sign. Start thinking about what you’d rather be doing and pursue that in your free time. Once you can make the switch, do so. It’s better for you and your company, long-term. A happy worker is a productive worker!

weirdfish · 2018-03-06T15:38:51.000Z

Learned new things, even if it was personal. I learned databases through playing with MS Access (2.0, mind you). I requested it from my company by proposing to incorporate a lot of our sales and invoice functions into a database. I didn’t foresee that it would streamline my department’s processes so much that I ended up creating more free time for myself. So I used that to study more in-depth functions of Access, which served as enough of a foundation to where learning how to use a grown-up database was much less intimidating.

Several years later, learned enough PHP to be able to talk to MySQL, created a system that housed my digital media collection as a reference library, parlayed that into building an asset management system at work, which then led to where I am today in my new job.

So, sure, it took over 25 years but I’d say I wouldn’t be where I am today had it not been for boredom at work

jonathanmendez2 · 2018-03-06T15:39:00.000Z

That can happen even in the best of jobs. In this case I think it might have to do with doing something you don’t care for. For example if you want to do networking or security and they have you doing desktop support. It might be time to have a meeting with your boss or get a move on. Carrers and life are very short for boredom.

seanmdit · 2018-03-06T15:43:32.000Z

Music, training videos, and research when I have run into this in the past or even now on days that are quieter. Plus I can always seem to find “busy work” when needed.

mountainbiker · 2018-03-06T15:48:41.000Z

+1 for find a new job and while you are looking, start messing with some new technology to improve your skills. Oh yeh- and go ride a mountain bike or do something else outside on a consistent basis.

techelp · 2018-03-06T16:05:17.000Z

Use that time to find another job. If you are bored on a regular basis and there isn’t enough stimulating work, find somewhere where there is. Your IT career is yours to cultivate and enjoy. Don’t be lazy in pursuing that.

murpheous · 2018-03-06T16:13:42.000Z

If you’re busy, yet bored, you are doing something wrong.

joelong · 2018-03-06T16:26:48.000Z

Just some humble thoughts and opinion. If you are bored with your work, contemplate one simple question. Are you doing what you were called to do?

It doesn’t have to be religious/spiritual, though for some it can be. But really think about. If you really are getting bored at work it’s not enough. Life’s too short to not follow and do what your passionate about.

Or, what can you do with your current work, to make it less boring?

kyle-for-scale-computing · 2018-03-06T16:33:51.000Z

Try reading some articles pertinent to your industry or learn some new/upcoming trends for the year.

I’ve also found short walks in the past to be helpful as well!

onecogmind · 2018-03-06T19:30:14.000Z

As previously mentioned… work my way up the Spiceworks ladder… but also spend a good amount of time watching CBT Nuggets and learning new stuff. I did consider doing another job via Cybercoders while working, but double dipping is not cool and I couldnt live with the guilt

brandoncarnduff1232 · 2018-03-06T19:43:36.000Z

I create posts and reply to posts on Spiceworks.

jeremy0306 · 2018-03-06T19:59:06.000Z

Currently at my job…things are not busy…at all…there is not enough work and there are too many technicians… I have had nothing to do for almost two weeks now… I have asked for more work to do and have built two computers… other than that… zero, zip, zilch, nada. Gets quite boring…and I’ve only been here maybe 4 or 5 months? Unfortunately I am stuck here until I have put in at least 1 year worth of time… can’t have other companies thinking I’m jumping ship at 4 or 5 months…