Distractions at work without the internet?

[lostforgottensoul]

So I work in a call center. We used to be back to back in calls but they've hired like twice as many people in the last few months and now have (or at least yesterday) 20 or more mins between calls. Work is a big distraction. I stay numb at work and if I allow any amount of of unnumbness all hell breaks loose onto customers so I need to keep myself numb and work hard at that. Web surfing is also a distraction. It was easy for me to find a good distraction out on the internet. But they said in a team meeting yesterday "zero web surfing between calls". That wouldn't of been an issue months ago but now that there's so much time between calls I find myself very much struggling. Especially when already fighting exhaustion, anxiety, or trying to keep myself numb.

I did ask about bringing my paracord projects to work. My sup at the time said no. Because someone that used to knit did it while on calls and it distracted her from her calls. Thanks girl! And I was also told no about a deck of cards and I had to get the ok by my sup to bring in adult coloring books and then he constantly asked me if I still needed it and to only bring out one colored pencil at a time. I haven't needed it in a while now and have a new sup that didn't work with me and anxiety at work.

So, I am left with just myself a pen and paper and that's it. Can anyone tell me pen and paper games I can play alone? I dont want to write poetry as i stay numb and don't want to unnumb or cant write because I am numb. Figured out I struggle to write when numb yesterday. I can do a budget or write lists of things but eventually I run out of things to write. Anyone have ideas?

 

[Chiqui]

What about drawing, anything and everything.

 

[somerandomguy]

Do you have a smartphone? Can you use it at work?

There are lots of crossword puzzles online that you could download and print out. Or Sudoku, Jumble, Cryptoquiz, etc.

 

[Marinna]

Don't have that problem with numbing, but i had a temp job in a call centre and we used to play noughts and crosses, hang man etc. Learning origami is a good one too. Really focuses the mind.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@Chiqui, that is a good idea. I need to bring a pencil into work or a few. I am an artist and I can draw with a pen but it's easier with a pencil. I do need to try to at least doodle. That can distract me for hours if I can find that place in my head. I've struggled with drawing for the last 9 yrs in therapy simply because it's chaos in my head and I lost the ability to just zero into an emotion or a few to draw and push everything else aside. A great idea though.

Do you have a smartphone? Can you use it at work?

Oh, no. That's another thing. PCI compliance because we take payments. No mobile devices of any kind out, ever.

Learning origami is a good one

Ooohhh yes! A good one!

I don't talk to my peers so I struggle there too.

 

[blackemerald1]

Can you bring in a nice photo & learn to draw it on a drawing pad with a pencil/drawing pen?

What do they expect you to do in your 20 minute down time btw calls? What does everyone else do? Sounds a little counter-productive to me.

 

[joeylittle]

Are you allowed to read?

 

[barefoot]

Lots of things you can do with paper!

Drawing, doodling, scribbling, shading...

Writing lists. Either practical ones (eg To Do lists or shopping lists) or just things like categorised alphabet lists (girls names, boys names, countries, film titles, animals, actors, bands etc) or top ten lists for all sorts of stuff (albums, books, TV shows) . They can be as light and trivial as you like but if you pick quite a big topic they can keep you occupied for quite a while.

Paper folding. Choose an origami design and practise.

Can you print out puzzles? Word search, cross word, sudoku...

Reading?

What do they want you to do between calls? What does everyone else do?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@joeylittle, no. I asked if books are allowed and was told no. No studying for things like certifications or anything like that as I asked that as well. No text books or college homework either. Though I'm not a big reader I would love to study for certs if I were allowed. They have a program for networking and other certs in benefits and ask you go that route but not to bring it into work.

It seems like things like that from home isn't allowed as it potientlly can distract someone on a call. Not sure how one can read a book and speak to a customer at the same time but yeah. Im not a big reader due to neing dyslexic but would be open to it or study for certs and that sort of thing.

What do they want you to do between calls?

Nothing as far as I can tell. Study processes in our database. I work as an internet/VOP/PC tech and so troubleshooting processes but I'm super technical and can do this with my eyes closed. I really don't need to brush up on much to be honest. I do like to find the processes that I can send feedback on about a better and/or faster more effecient route but can only do that so much.

Paper folding. Choose an origami design and practise.

Need more paper for that. And instructions other then on the internet?

What does everyone else do?

Many still web search. I just dont want to be that person that gets pulled in amd coached on it. Most talk to each other. I just dont lile to talk to anyone so im left witb me, myself, and I.

 

[Missycat]

Is there any project work you could do ? Something that would benefit your company. You have so many skills its a shame that your company isnt utilising them , they would benefit and so would you ie being empowered, driving change, fixing things, adding value etc .

 

[blackemerald1]

@lostforgottensoul that's..so weird (this work policy). Can you ask if you can take more calls bc you really want to? Otherwise...idk.

Oh & I agree with you, don't be that person - they are probably monitoring who are not following this odd Policy..if there is a problem everybody will be caught in the net. (no pun intended).

 

[barefoot]

Need more paper for that. And instructions other then on the internet?

So they won’t give you a few sheets of paper?

Or you can’t take a few blank sheets of paper in?

Or you can’t print out a sheet of origami instructions or a sudoku or something at home and take that in?

Sounds crazy to me!

As @Missycat suggested, is there anything work-wise you can suggest doing in between calls? A project that can use your high level tech skills?

Do you have to stay at your desk between calls?

Or can you have another conversation with your supervisor to ask their suggestions on what would be permitted rather than you suggesting things to them and them saying they’re unsuitable?