28 temporary suggestions later

If you have ever "temped" before, and have constantly tried to find things to work on, sometimes you will reach that dead end of having absolutely nothing to do …except wait for the phone to ring. You have already asked your neighbors and bosses if they need help, and there's simply no work to do. You are happy to be working, and to have a job, but you will fall asleep from boredom if you don't find something to occupy yourself. What's there to do?

You're So Helpful!
1) Keep a daily journal of what you work on, and email it to your regular when you are finished with that assignment.

2) Find out if there is any filing or long term drudge projects that need to be worked on.

3) Organize any office supplies (use caution, act small and within reason and don't perform any major reorganizations.) For example, you could turn a huge pile of reused "sign here" sticky tabs into a neat stack, or unlock a bunch of paperclips, but not sort out a pile of various papers. The main point is that you don't want to interfere with your regular's system.

4) Try your hand at cleaning or organizing the supply closet, library, or kitchen. Ask for permission first! And this is a big job, so it's only if you're super-motivated to do it. Works best in small non-corporate settings, such as entrepreneurships or nonprofits.

5) Repair anything that you have solid knowledge in. You could even paint or decorate if in the right environment. I once helped paint performer's quarters and kitchen at a small theatre and artspace, as an intern.

6) Sit and think and figure out solutions to life's problems, world peace, etc.

Be Better at Your Job
7) Devour any handouts that your regular left for your information. Read and re-read them.

8) Learn people's names (office staff or frequent contacts) and phone numbers. Go through databases and contact lists to see who your boss and regular work with. Don't disclose any information that you find out unless it becomes necessary in order to perform your work task(s) adequately.

9) Talk to your cubicle neighbors.

10) Listen to people's conversations (without being obvious about it. Listen without really listening, as they say.) Learn from their conversation and decision-making style. Realize the diversity there is to be found between people's communication skills.

11) Explore the company intranet or website.

12) Read company magazines or other publications.

13) Familiarize with the type of work that your regular does. For their routine work, what are the subtle differences between the documents or information?

14) Read any and all office or desk manuals.

15) Practice typing and improve your typing speed.

16) Go through files, drawers, and shelves to familiarize yourself with their location and contents.

17) Perform stretches, yoga, or tai chi to improve your circulation and bloodflow to the brain, prepping you for quick action when that next urgent project pops up.

Improve your life and situation
18) Compose your next novel.

19) Plan your menu for tonight, or for the whole week.

20) Practice deep belly breathing for health and relaxation.

21)Correct your posture into proper ergonomic neck, spine, feet, and arm position. If you don't know how, find out.

Stimulate Your Mind
22) Figure out a better desk/office/cubicle configuration for your office or whole floor.

23) Read a book - If appropriate, if working alone, or with approval.

Just for Fun and Creativity
24)Use the paint program to draw pretty/funny pictures.

25) Take a nap or meditate while facing the wall.

26) Send psychic messages to your friends.

27) Invent a new handwriting style- or, a new language, while you're at it. You could be the next J.R.R. Tolkien!

28) Teach yourself to write with your other, nondominant hand.

29)Write articles for your blog! Yes, I wrote this while at work. I'm not proud of it, nor bragging about it. But I'd rather be awake and blogging, than comatose and useless, dragging through the day.

Etc...or Organize your Life and Change the World!
30) Write complaint letters or emails to companies who have provided you with bad customer service, don't provide the product you like, or have changed something about their store.

31) Organize your purse or business cards or Palm Pilot.

32) Write emails full of nonsense words. (only able to do for about 5 minutes at a time without vomiting.)

Notes on the Lessons

As a temp, I made my own guideline to check in with each of my bosses at least once a day to see if they had work for me to do. This may sound like an extraordinarily low frequency of asking. However I quickly learned after a few weeks of different temp assignments, that 90% of the time your boss will tell you if there is work to do. They are too busy to find things for you to do, and they are glad for you to just be there at their beck and call when they need you. They know you are there. Often they don't really care how you fill their time, as long as you make their work life easier and more pleasant, rather than harder. For me, as a relative introvert, I found it truly tiring to ask my bosses more than once a day or every other day, and draining to ask my neighbors more than once every few days. Maybe it is my pride, as I don't like to feel like I'm begging for work. Or I'm scared that they will kick me out, or that I’m being a burden. Generally, the more urgent the work or boss seemed, the more often I asked. It really also depends on your supervisor. Sometimes they are too busy to think of you, and when they see you, they are prompted to remember things for you to work on. To a degree, I didn't want more work to do. I'd rather work on my own personal things. But my conscience prompted me to ask more than I probably would've otherwise.

If you aim to be responsible and choose to abide by the no-internet rules, your list of possible activites to keep yourself busy has thus been greatly reduced. I have therefore endeavored to come up with honest rule-abiding ways to maintain alertness and pass the time. This is mainly for the sake of remaining active and engaged, and to stave off fatigue and dullness- to keep a keen mind and be ready to work when needed. The below list is just suggestions and a starting point for your own creativity. USE YOUR BEST AND HIGHEST JUDGEMENT AND MAINTAIN INTEGRITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY AT ALL TIMES. Be discreet and try not to look like you are goofing off. Do not disclose or share any information that you find. It is for your own entertainment and edification only. Do not remember or retain any employer information for mailicious or information-hoarding purposes. For reference, in the list below, the person you are taking the place of will be referred to as "your regular."

One more hint: Don't tell you supervisor (in any terms) that you have "no work to do." Stop by their office to give an update on your latest project, and lightly ask, " Do you need me to work on anything else right now?" or "Anything else to work on at the moment?"

On internet usage at work:
We've had it inculcated into our heads that, while temping, the internet and email on computers are for business uses only, and not for personal use. This is a touchy subject for temps and full-time employees alike, that arouses heated feelings no matter who you talk to. Some believe that once you have finished your work, you should be free to do whatever you wish (including using the internet), as long as it is not illegal, doesn't hurt anyone, etc. Others believe that personal internet and email use is always unacceptable at work. Others believe that it is OK on your breaks and before or after work. Many others fall somewhere in between. Compounding the issue is that many managers are vague or cagey when asked about the policy, or others get incensed at the mere suggestion that they may not have enough work for their subordinates to do. Some regular employees just choose not to talk about personal use because they think their boss will cut down their hours, if they think there is not enough work to do. It's a pity because there is so much information available on the Web. I could spend all day on the web just looking.