20 Things You Thought only You Did in The Office – How Many Apply to You?

Working in an office can be mundane at times. To alleviate this, we all have our little coping mechanisms. Some of us may talk to ourselves in the bathroom, eat lunch at our desks, or take naps in the break room. Others may pretend to work while watching Netflix, or send personal emails from their work accounts. While these things may seem silly or even unprofessional, they are actually harmless ways to cope with the boredom and monotony of office life. Here are 20 things we all do in the office but would never say out loud:

Office Chair Swiveling

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Navigating the workday often involves the subtle art of office chair swiveling. It’s a silent dance of concentration, a momentary break from the screen where your chair becomes a pivot point for creativity and stress relief. We all do it, but it’s our little secret for staying energized.

Inbox Ping-Pong

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In the world of work, the inbox is a digital battlefield. We engage in a friendly game of inbox ping-pong, skillfully deflecting tasks and emails back and forth. It’s a dance of prioritization and multitasking, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

Stealth Snacking

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Let’s be real—snacking on the job is a universal truth. Whether it’s a quiet nibble of almonds or a discreet chocolate indulgence, we all have our stealthy snack moments. It’s the fuel for productivity, just in a slightly undercover way.

Emoji Interpretation

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In the digital age, our emails and messages are peppered with emojis. We’ve become fluent in the language of smileys and thumbs-up. Behind the professional facade, there’s a shared skill of emoji interpretation that adds a touch of humanity to our communication.

Desk Drumming

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When the workload crescendos, the desk becomes a drum kit. Quiet drumming sessions are a universal stress-relief technique. It’s not just noise; it’s a rhythmic expression of the internal beat that keeps us moving forward.

Screen Privacy Maneuvers

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Privacy matters, even in an open office. The subtle tilting and angling of screens become an intricate ballet to shield sensitive information. It’s a non-verbal agreement—we all understand the unspoken language of screen privacy maneuvers.

Tab Hiding Tactics

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The number of open tabs can be overwhelming. We all have our tab-hiding tactics, whether it’s minimizing, organizing, or strategically rearranging. It’s our way of maintaining digital order in the chaos of the internet.

Meeting Room Musical Chairs

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Navigating meeting room availability is like playing a game of musical chairs. We’ve all experienced the swift shuffle to snag the last available room. It’s a strategic move, a dance of calendars and conference room bookings.

Elevator Small Talk

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The elevator is a microcosm of workplace social dynamics. Engaging in elevator small talk is an unspoken ritual. A brief exchange of pleasantries in that confined space is our way of acknowledging each other’s existence.

Copier Karaoke

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The office copier doubles as an unexpected stage. Copier karaoke is the phenomenon of humming or quietly singing while making copies. It’s a playful way to infuse a mundane task with a touch of melody and humor.

Meeting Daydreaming

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In the sea of meetings, daydreaming is our escape pod. Whether it’s picturing a tropical beach or planning the next weekend adventure, we all engage in a bit of meeting daydreaming. It’s a mental breather in the midst of the agenda.

Ghost Emailing

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Ghost emailing is the art of drafting an email and leaving it in the drafts folder. It’s a therapeutic exercise, a way to articulate thoughts without the commitment of hitting send. We all have a graveyard of unsent emails.

Unofficial Break Room Therapists

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The break room isn’t just for coffee; it’s a space for unofficial therapy sessions. We’ve all played the role of unofficial break room therapists, offering a listening ear and words of wisdom over a shared snack.

Calendar Tetris

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Scheduling is a complex game of calendar Tetris. We strategically arrange meetings, deadlines, and personal commitments, hoping for a perfect fit. It’s a puzzle we all attempt to solve, striving for that elusive work-life balance.

Coffee Mug Collection

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Behind the professional veneer lies a secret passion—the coffee mug collection. Each mug tells a story, a personal touch amidst the sea of standardized office supplies. It’s a subtle form of self-expression in the workplace.

Desktop Zen Gardens

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Creating a desktop zen garden is our silent rebellion against digital chaos. Whether it’s arranging icons meticulously or setting a serene wallpaper, it’s a tiny act of reclaiming control in the digital realm.

Browser History Anxiety

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We’ve all experienced browser history anxiety. The momentary panic when someone asks to use your computer, and you hope they don’t accidentally stumble upon your eclectic search history. It’s a shared digital vulnerability.

Chair Yoga

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Long hours at the desk call for subtle stretches, and chair yoga becomes our go-to. It’s not just about physical well-being; it’s a mindful moment in the midst of deadlines. We all have our chair yoga routines.

Unwritten Etiquette Codes

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In the workplace, there’s a set of unwritten etiquette codes. Whether it’s the unspoken rule about not microwaving fish or the subtle acknowledgment of someone’s lunch from home, these codes are the invisible threads that weave office culture together.

Water Cooler Wisdom

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The water cooler isn’t just for hydration; it’s a hub of water cooler wisdom. Casual conversations, impromptu advice sessions, and shared laughter—it’s the social heartbeat of the workplace where camaraderie flows as freely as water.

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