I don't goof off anywhere near as much at this job as at my old job, but when I do get some down time, it is major, serious, heavy-duty down time. Right now, for instance, there is simply no work. I finished a couple of projects (one small, one larger) for our president earlier, and now she has left to attend a conference. The senior tech is also on vacation. I have spoken to the other techs and none of them have work to delegate to me (or, for the most part, work at all). I haven't been here long enough to have files that need organizing or a particularly messy desk. So I can goof off with a completely clear conscience.
The truth is, I hate seeking out new work, but I love it when I have work. If people would give me 10 long projects with no deadlines, I would be as happy as a clam, knowing I could come in for many, many days without running out. I much prefer showing up to work in the morning, rather than coming in between projects.
When I do have work, I have to work pretty solidly. They're billable hours, after all, and I'm not willing to have my company bill other companies for my time if I'm half-working, half-surfing the Internet. So I stay pretty focused and only take occasional short breaks. We bill down to the quarter hour. It's...rigorous.
So I am enjoying today's (hopefully) brief respite.
1 comment:
That's one thing I miss about having a job - the occasional periods of legitimately goofing off. School can easily be built up in the mind of a crazy person (e.g. me) to be a 25 hours per day kind of commitment.
Although even at work, one can always be improving her skills and doing other professional-related (if not work-task-related) stuff, there's something simply about being at work that gives a sense of being on task even when spending down time surfing hobby websites.
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