A Moment In Time

My sugars seem to be somewhat back on track—especially since I didn’t check before I went to bed last night, so I couldn’t see the high number (I was hungry and ate too many carbs and I knew it).

So, instead of talking about my diabetes, I’m going to make a list of all the things I do to make it look like I’m busy at work, when I just don’t feel like doing actual work at the moment. My disclaimer: I’m a damn fine employee and earn every cent I make, but there are moments in my week when I need a brain break in order to operate better. These are my moments…

1. Surf the net. This involves many different Web sites. Now, technically, some of them I should be reading for work. My job is very pop-culture oriented, so if I’m reading TMZ or Hollywood Reporter, it’s to get the latest celeb information. It’s also plausible for me to be on the Entertainment Weekly and People magazine Web sites; it’s not necessarily plausible for me to be reading the Lost recaps, though, so I have to be careful. And, if I’m doing too much surfing, then it’s too obvious. Luckily, my browser has tabs, and if someone important walks by, I just quickly click my e-mail tab so it looks like I’m reading an important correspondence.

2. Google people. People from grade school, junior high, high school, college, previous jobs, family members and basically anyone who pops into my head. It’s fun. You should try it.

3. Read blogs. Diabetes blogs, author blogs and anything else that piques my interest. I’m a compulsive reader, so it’s not hard to catch my eye with a fun turn of phrase.

4. Write my blog. Like I’m doing now. (My e-mail screen is right behind, so I can just click on it and this will tuck neatly behind it.)

5. Balance my checkbook. I don’t remember the last time I checked my bank statement at home. In fact, if memory serves me, when I tried to do it months ago, my bank said it didn’t recognize my home computer and made me jump through hoops. This is a bit trickier, so I usually do it when my boss is at lunch. However, with the proper placement of work papers, I can slide my check register in and out of sight as needed. I also pay my bills online.

6. Nap. Well, I don’t actually fall asleep, but I will close my eyes. I have to read a lot of pages, and if I turn just so in my chair so you can’t see my face from the door, and prop my head up with my hand, I can make it look like I’m reading. I will say that I only do this if I’m feeling ill and really need 10 winks.

7. Test my blood. Technically, I can do this in about 30 seconds. However, if I need about three minutes, I can really draw out the process.

8. Read magazines. Actually part of my job—the pop culture thing again. My company subscribes to just about every magazine out there, from Soap Opera Digest to Vogue to Star. I can’t technically just sit at my desk and read for hours, but I can do the “I’m just glancing through” for a good 15 minutes. And if no one is paying attention, I can do it for an hour.

9. Organize e-mails. Again, could be considered actual work, but I find it a mindless and easy task to put a checkmark next to the e-mails I want to move, then click to put them in a different folder.

10. Go to the bathroom. My office building doesn’t have bathrooms in the offices; there’s one woman’s restroom and one men’s restroom per floor. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on the situation), the women’s bathroom is down the hall, down another hall and down another hall. It only takes about 35 seconds to get there, but it’s a nice little break from sitting at my desk and staring at my computer screen (especially after I’ve Googled about 26 people).

I think that’s it, and I take full claim to my slacker ways.

As always, more to come (because there will be more moments when I don’t want to do work tasks, and will use this blog to take a break)…