Get Out of the Cubicle

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Adam’s Top Five Ways to Waste Time

Here in the Urban Escapes office, we have an immense appreciation for the art of how to waste time between the hours of 9am-5pm (we don’t call this blog “Get out of the Cubicle” for nothing).  Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my job, but like any right-minded employee, I can’t go more than a few hours before I need a mindless distraction. So in typical Letterman fashion, I present to you my top 5 ways to waste time during the work day.

5. http://www.sporcle.com - A friend sent me this site a few days ago. It preys upon society’s pension for trivia knowledge and has managed to create an entire website devoted to rote memory recall. From state capitals, to logo recognition, to basic math, this site is sure to leave to entertained and addicted.

4. Pull a prank on someone in the office - Here at UE we prefer the prank call. We do it all the time and are getting better at it every day. It’s great. Spend a few minutes in the morning formulating a plan, chose yourunsuspecting target, and strike.  This one, however, requires a disclaimer. As the prankster, you have to be fully prepared to become the pranked in the future. Once Pandora’s Box has been opened, we can do nothing to help you.

3. Play a game of chess - Have you seen that Facebook app that lets you play a friend in Scrabble in such a way that you make one move every time you log on to Facebook. Games can last hours or even days. We do the same with chess in our office. Set up a board in the morning in an easily accessible location and play a game throughout the day against a colleague. Every time you walk by the board on the way to the water cooler or the kitchen, make your move. The game could take days, but it gives you something to look forward to anytime you get tired of staring at the computer.

4. http://www.jaypeakresort.com - You don’t have to live out west to be a powder hound. Five inches here or twelve there can be the difference between edge-dulling ice and your next powder day on the slopes. I like to scope out the snow forecast at Jay Peak (up on the Canadian border) because it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.  Jay annually picks up almost as much snow as Aspen, Vail, Steamboat, and most other western resorts you can think of.  If you’re stuck between skyscrapers and the mere thought of powder makes you smile, check out the jay website, there’s a high chance it’s snowing somewhere right now not so far from you. ..183” and counting.

* For additional time wasting, check out their photos from the last few weeks. You’re bound to see some sick knee-high gnar gnar.

1. Lunch Break? - As an avid Costco customer there is only one thing better than purchasing my margarine in 5 lb tubs… eating their free samples. The delicious finger foods (the quiche are my favorite) make a delicious snack while you’re shopping, but they make even better reason to leave the office for 30 minutes around noon. Come on everyone, lunch is on me!!