How to kill time in office

So, This one’s for all you hapless poor souls desperately wanting some help on a rather serious issue which others might term as a joke i.e. “Afterall how to kill time in the office.”
I know this cannot be a joke because I’ve seen many talented fellows fully laced with technical expertise and sitting idle in this great Indian IT industry and getting frustrated to the point of committing suicide.

When I initially thought about writing it I thought not many would actually need it or like it. But then when I talked to a very high profile manager and he said- “Everyone knows that no one actually is productive at work, some are just better at pretending they do.”
That triggered off the thought in me. And I asked him how can one do it. He replied- “Waste time constructively without getting busted by the boss.”
I know this is easier said than done. That’s why once I received so many comments and requests to write on this topic even I was clueless. So I got into touch with some of the best in this art( mind you, some of them are at very high posts in reputed firms) and took their inputs which I’m summarizing along with my experiences:

This suggestion was given to me by a senior guy in my office only-

1. Hold a huge stack of papers and go to the photocopy machine.
2. Go to the toilet.
3. Slowly zip your pants.
4. Walk to the photocopy machine.
5. Pretend as if you forgot to take your file or something.
6. Walk back to your table.
7. Stop by your colleagues' tables and start chatting about yesterdays match.
8. Stroll back to your desk.
9. Pretend to search for your file.
10. Ooh! You found on your table!
11. Stroll back to the photocopy machine.
12. Switch on the machine.
13. Go to the toilet.
14. Zip your pants slowly

Another friend of mine who works in a consultancy firm in Gurgaon actually had some really practical tips to avoid getting noticed while killing time:

1 Walk really fast when you are going anywhere as to appear something important is going to happen.
2 Carry a notebook with you at all times. Seems like you are supposed to be somewhere taking notes. If at your desk keep it open with a pen on it.
3 Shuffle papers and sigh loudly.
4 Look pissed off / stare at your computer, ruffling your hair.
5 Put up a do not disturb sign when you are browsing the web.
6 Continually click on a pen.


Well those were some wise comments. I personally believe that along with all the suggestions commented out by the people, you should also focus on some creative activity which actually helps you in the longer run. Getting a membership of an article portal and reading atleast one a day will not only keep you engaged but help you increase your awareness and knowledge about so many different aspects of life and nature. Try solving a puzzle a day. Will keep your mind healthy. Indulge in your hobbies and utilize the internet in a more useful context than chatting.
Use time productively even if you don’t have any work. Because as some wise man has said-“If you kill time today, Time will kill you tomorrow”
So take it as a blessing and use it to your advantage. Coz you never know when will your boss catch you reading such stupid blogs at office and from the next day you do not have any free time to breathe forget about killing.
And then you’ll ask me to write on “ How to make 25 hours out of the 24 hours”