We’ve all been there. That moment at work that creeps up on you when your fingers are just itching to the type “Facebook†into your address bar. You know you have work to do, but what’s the big deal if you take a little break—or two. As you internally fight the urge to log on to your favorite Website—whether it’s a sports site, an online store or an juicy gossip blog —you convince yourself that a little time on Pinterest won’t hurt.
Well, it will.
In addition to it probably being against your company’s policies, your slight addiction to recreational Web surfing can jeopardize your productivity level.
Working Hard or Hardly Working?
According to a recent survey by Salary.com, 64% of employees visit non-work-related Websites daily while at the office. Of employees between the ages of 18 and 35, 73% reported spending time perusing those sites every day.
The survey also revealed what Websites distracted employees the most. Unsurprisingly, Facebook took the cake at 41%, while 37% use LinkedIn, and 25% are shopping at Amazon. Other sites included Yahoo, Google+, Twitter and Pinterest.
Why Waste Time?
According to the survey, there are six reasons employees spend so much time surfing the ‘Net. The No. 1 reason for slacking at work was that they don’t feel challenged enough on the job. Other reasons include, (2) they work too many hours, (3) the company gives no incentive to work harder, (4) they are unsatisfied with their career, (5) they’re just bored and (6) they are underpaid.
Resist the Itch!
Wasting time on the Web can hurt your career as well as your company. According to the Center for Internet Addiction, employers lose nearly $4 billion dollars each year to Internet misuse. Instead of trolling YouTube for new videos, use the down time to improve yourself, as this would both benefit you and your company. If you don’t have enough work to do, ask your supervisor to allow you to utilize extra time for professional development. Take a workout break or find better ways to organize yourself. Work on that next big idea or project you plan to present to your boss. Find ways to make more boss moves.