Bonus points if you manage to work on personal projects without leaving a trail IT can see on your work computer.
I’m in tech but not a dev, but i enjoy coding as a hobby. I code at work on my personal projects, it’s perfect :)
Oh also for a a couple years I had Civilization V on a separate PC. Great for looking busy and focused :) Ofc you need a desk in such a way that nobody can sneak from behind. I was managing managers at the time so that wasn’t a problem. “Ooh boss looks busy” - hell fucking yeah I’m about to pound Gandhi in Deity boss is busy godahmit
As a warning for people who live in countries that have poor worker rights:
Depending of your local laws, contract and field, personal projects done during work hours and/or on work hardware might be seen as companys property.
I agree this is poor worker rights, but isn’t most places like that?
Why not just do your job?? Maybe you’ll find something about it you enjoy doing?
What are you, HR?
Naaah… just a responsible adult.
Do you make your boss pull out, or do you let him finish inside?
Awww! Such a lemmy thing to say! Enjoy the animal crackers and the juice box. I’m headed back to the adult table now.
Declarations of adulthood: the most adult thing possible.
I don’t see many children claiming to be adults, so…… a spade remains a spade.
Of course, buddy. You’re all grown up. Very big.
I do my job! The work-to-“hours I’m required to be there” ratio is just not in favor of keeping me occupied all the time
I just listen to podcasts and music, and daydream as I work. I can’t relax if I’m not working cos it’s not worth the hassle, but I don’t have to give the system my whole mind.
I work in IT so I can always bludge while looking like I am working by reading documents
🤔

"Gator’s bitches better be using jimmies!” - slazer2au
Getting a job you enjoy
I listen to podcasts while working. Earbuds in under my earmuffs (I work in the cooler of a slaughterhouse). I still do all my normal work, but at least I’m not bored to tears and having my anxiety attack my brain whenever it feels like it.
I’m big on podcasts too, I’d be bored to absolute tears without them
Work from home!
If your profession has a professional society or industry has a trade association, look into webinars, certification classes, or other events they might have to learn more about your field and build skills. They often have opportunities to get involved with the organization as well, which could look good on paper to management when promotion opportunities arise…or new job applications if there are no promotions
Find something you enjoy that you can spin as work-related. I learned about sqlite as a potential way to store the lexicon for one of my constructed languages and it ended up becoming relevant at work.
I’ve had similar luck with playing with raspberry pis and generic Linux stuff. I’m not just setting up a self hosted forum, I’m learning about reverse proxies.
I dabble in Python, and I’ve made a few scripts that are really helpful and speed up my work a lot. I’m trying to figure out how I can develop that further, right now I’m thinking about learning VBA to make scripts to automate file sorting from my Outlook
I’ve downloaded books (novels) in pdf format, emailed them to myself or uploaded them in a public folder, and then printed them (double sided, two pages on one sheet, just like an actual book) in chunks of 20 pages (so 80 pages of the actual book). Stapled the whole thing in one corner, sat down at my desk, pen in hand, scribbling on the pages here and there.
Brilliant
The best way is to find a job you actually enjoy doing, and also that pays you more the busier you are.
Not the answer OP expected but the correct one. Doing strictly nonwork things at work can get you noticed in a bad way. I’ve had good and bad IT jobs and it’s really amazing how a bad job can drive bad behaviors and a good job do the opposite.
I just find something to clean… no one complains about someone taking the initiative
Just enjoying the job 😎
But seriously now. Looks to me that you are looking for the combination of thing you enjoy and thing that brings you money. That can be a challenge but also very fulfilling. I know it - I lead a nonprofit organization that I profoundly believe in - it or both hard and easy.
You may look some YouTube videos about “life purpose”. I have a good experience with Actualized.org.
I don’t find what I do to give me “life purpose”, but I still enjoy it. Web developer.
I enjoy the work.
I cant because one can see right on my screens. So i am just on my phone and if they ever question it, i have some open pages ready








