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Bored at work? Tired of reading too many gossip sites? This is a problem that plagues many of us in the fresh-out-of-college crowd (and even those of us that aren’t so fresh out). There are many reasons why this is happening to you. You may not be in the right field. You may not know what you want to be when you grow up yet. Or, you may not have been able to get anything else. When you have a boring job, it is easy to despair about the future: “you mean I have to do this five days a week for the rest of my life?”

But fear not! I am about to give you some helpful tips on how to while away the hours at your desk:

1. Look for another job.

If you’re bored at work, you probably aren’t in the right place. There is no reason to stay at a job you hate (assuming you hate your job). First thing’s first, make sure your resume is up-to-date. Add any new information and edit out the old stuff. If you aren’t sure what your resume should look like, look for samples online. Once your resume is up-to-date, try to look for new jobs on your lunch break or during your downtime. There are plenty of sites online that help find jobs in your area that fit your interests.

Writing cover letters takes time and concentration. For every job you apply to, you need a personalized and specific cover letter. Before hitting send, re-read your documents. Do you sound confident in your cover letter? Is your resume up to date? Don’t wait around to hear from each job before you apply to another one. You’ll have a better chance of catching something the more you put yourself out there. You may not find anything for a while, but hey, it’s the thrill of the chase that keeps us going.

2. Write

You don’t have to be Stephen King to have fun writing. Whether it’s a poem or a novel, writing is a great way to spend your downtime at work. It’s easy to do discretely; if your boss gets nosey, just tell him/her that you’re typing up those meeting minutes. The best part about writing at work is the lack of deadlines. You can write when you have time, maybe you’ll even want to bring it home. If you start writing at work, each day will be a new adventure. You may continue with the same story as the day before, but now there are new characters and situations to add in. Getting lost in your stories helps you forget about the dullness of your own job. Just don’t get too lost, you still have a job to do.

3. Become an online contributor

Ever wanted to see your name on a byline? There are hundreds of sites out there that want your input! Shop around on Craigslist to try and find a writing position in your area. Don’t pick just any site, though; make sure its something that interests you (hint, this very site is looking for contributors). You may not get a position right away, but keep trying. If you enjoy writing articles and get enough experience, you may be able to turn it into a career. If articles aren’t your thing, start a blog. Write down your thoughts and experiences or take on a character. Blogs are a great way to get your opinions out there without any outside editing!

4. Play games

You can play online games if your work permits it. I wouldn’t recommend any showy or flashy games, as those are easily detectable. No way would your boss condone Snood during work hours! Besides, being in front of a computer for hours on end turns our brains to mush. You may as well give it a workout. There are plenty of puzzle games out there to work your mind. I suggest Sudoku, its fun and can provide hours of entertainment. Not all games have to be played online, either. You can make your own fun. How many times does Tom wear that shirt in one week? How often does Christine say ‘I have a question for you’ a day?  By coming up with your own games and playing them with your colleagues, you can help alleviate someone else’s boredom too!

These are just a few of the ways to keep yourself occupied while you have some downtime.  Stay tuned for future articles on how to improve your boring workday.