How can I keep from goofing off at work? I dilly dally and putz around but I find it VERY hard to stop.?

Question

I've taken to only coming to Yahoo Answers and my other fave web sites when I'm at home, otherwise I can spend hours here! I know it's wrong because it's stealing from my boss. How else can I stay focused?

Answer 1

Well my excuse is it's late in the day and I should be on the road. :-) But when I get unfocused I try to make a "Task List for Dummies". Take the most critical thing I *should* be doing and break it into unbearably easy subtasks. Then I promise to do at least one. But once I get one done - I wind up doing about five or six more steps to where it's about 90% complete. Wrap up later. My 2c.

Answer 2

My first thought is to write yourself a list of definite things you need to get done in the day. Focus on getting those done instead of dilly dallying. If you like poetry, maybe you could try writing some poems during your free time, and you can come back to them when your done. Or you can try finding a good book that interests you to read when you've nothing better to do. You could also write out lists of other things you need to keep track of, or you could offer another coworker assistance in anything that you might be able to help with, even if it's not your first choice, because this will help to keep you focused.

Answer 3

Put together a daily list of things to do. Prioritize the list, then start going down the list and completing tasks. Because you prioritized your tasks, you will know that you are always working on the most important thing (your top 'not yet completed' task).

Answer 4

Heh, I like to blame my bosses. They should make it so we want to work. I can't help it my work is not rewarding and doesn't contribute to humanity, and maybe you can't either.
Seriously, some stuff stinks and you can't help being distracted. Just follow your instincts, they sound pretty good and you are on the right track. You'll always fall off the wagon, but you can just get right back on again.

Answer 5

I think that it is okay to goof off sometimes depending on where and who you work for. In order to get rid of this bad habit try to control yourself from doing that then just keep your mind on work. Even though it is a major change from goofinf off and having fun from work, work, work, atleast you did what you wanted to do.

Answer 6

I think you need a more productive kind of job. Maybe your job is not a happening thing for you. If you have that much time on your hands then maybe it's time to switch careers.