How to Stay Awake at the Office

We've all had those days at the office. Those long days when no matter how much work we have stacked on our desks or how hard we try to focus, we can't keep our eyes open. On those days, we know we're not going to get much done, so we might as well have some fun.

There are a few tricks I've learned over the years that have helped me stay awake and appear busy at the same time. One note: I only recommend these techniques if your boss has a sense of humor.

The Paper Clip Chain

Everyone who works in an office has made a paper clip chain. It keeps our hands busy while our minds wander. But the key here isn't the chain itself. It's what you do with it.

You could fashion jewelry out of it-necklaces and bracelets, maybe even a pair of earrings-but then it would be obvious to your boss and coworkers that you aren't actually working.

Instead, hide the paper clips under a piece of paper while you hook them together. Make the chain as long as you can. When the person in the next cubicle gets up to go to the bathroom, replace all of his paper clips with the chain you just made. Then all you have to do is wait until he tries to grab one.

The Taped Drawers

If you've already done the paper clip trick, you might want to try this one out on a different coworker. As soon as someone leaves a cubicle unattended, make sure no one is looking, then make a beeline for the desk. Choose a desk drawer and place three pieces of transparent tape around the edges of it. Be careful not to use long pieces of tape. Otherwise, they'll be seen. When your coworker returns, watch as she tries to figure out how her drawer got jammed.

The Tech Team

When you get tired of messing with individual coworkers, you can waste at least a couple hours bugging the tech team. Make a list of everything that's wrong with your computer, then call the tech department and read the list to them. Act like it's the most important thing they could do all day. When one of them stops by to check out the situation, ask how to hook up the DSL on your home computer.

This works especially well if you have a friend in the tech department who will play along.

The Shredder

If your boss frowns on practical jokes and you're still having a hard time focusing, you could always run the shredding machine. Grab everything you have that can be shredded, then stop at everyone else's desks and ask if they have anything that needs to go. After you've gathered everything you can, feed all the papers into the shredder. Take your time. The longer you move around, the more alert you will become.

It's not a good idea to engage in these activities every day. You won't get any work done if you do and your coworkers will quickly get tired of you. However, they are good for a little boost once in a while. And remember, none of these tips will help your productivity, but at least you'll look busy. If nothing else works, you could always take a nap in the bathroom.