Retail Workers Talk About Their Favorite Techniques For Passing Time When Working
"When I worked at Verizon, I taught myself how to juggle."
Retail shifts can feel endless when the store is quiet, the clock barely moves, and there is nothing to do but wait for the next customer. That is exactly why so many workers end up inventing little games, routines, and distractions just to make it through the day.
In this AskReddit thread, retail employees shared the odd, funny, and surprisingly relatable ways they pass the time on the job. Some of the answers are harmless, some are a little chaotic, and a few are exactly the kind of thing only a bored cashier or stocker would come up with.
Their methods say a lot about retail life, and a few of them are weirdly brilliant.
1. Easy does it.
“When I worked retail, I used to go out and sloooowwwwly gather the carts.”
Some shifts practically force people to get creative.
Retail work can often lead to boredom, which may trigger maladaptive coping strategies, like excessive daydreaming or distraction. As a result, employees often engage in creative activities to break the monotony, such as juggling or learning new skills. These activities not only alleviate boredom but also improve mood and well-being.
2. Fold away....
“Folding.
I got so good at folding (without a board) that I would spend hours perfecting stacks of shirts.
Also, dusting, organizing, and cleaning things that people never see. As long as I had decent music, it could really help the shift go by fast.
But if anyone told me to clean, I would get annoyed. LOL.”
3. Always carry a broom...
“I had a friend who worked at Walmart in college, and he was convinced that an employee who “looked” like they were working was invisible to the management staff.
So he took a big broom and walked around the same set of aisles for an entire 8-hour shift, doing nothing else to see if they would notice.
The same manager walked by him 22 times and never said a word to him.”
That one sounds almost too effective.
4. Just imagine....
“Chatting with co-workers mostly, and imagining a different reality in my head.”
5. Nice game
“I work as a grocery cashier, and it gets boring fast scanning items and standing for hours, and time goes by VERY slowly.
I play a game with myself where I look for/count one specific thing, like bad tattoos, so every 10 people I see who I consider to have a bad tattoo, I check the clock.
Every 20 people who come in with their dog in a stroller (very common in my store), I check the clock, etc.”
6. Sad game
“I used to draw sad clowns on the back of receipt paper.
The sadder, the better.”
7. Don’t you dare…
“Do NOT look at the time. Big mistake.”
Clock-watching is apparently the enemy here.
It also echoes the office worker who confronted a coworker stealing their meal prep from the fridge.
8. Books save sanity....
“I worked at Party City for 4 years and would not have been able to do it without Bluetooth headphones!!!
My hair goes past my ears, so I’d put one headphone in one ear and hide it with my hair, then have the other ear free if people needed me!
Podcasts and audiobooks saved my sanity.”
9. Interesting customer stories...
“I know this seems crazy, but actually talking to customers can be pretty incredible.
So many people are starved for human interaction, and everyone has an interesting story.”
10. Audiobooks...
“We have work phones with optional earpieces (the transparent secret-service coiled earpieces).
I just plug that into my phone and listen to audiobooks. Four hours of listening so far today, three books finished so far this year.”
11. Amazing.
“I worked as an overnight stocker for two years. During that time, I thought up and worked out a story idea in my head.
When I got an office job that I needed to fill time at, I wrote that story over three years of extra free time. I finished the first draft last year and have been taking a break from it while working on a new story.”
12. Dangerous mind…
“I made spreadsheets; I cataloged my co-workers' bathroom breaks, coffee breaks, and how often they swore. I sometimes gave them stickers rewarding them for “swearing less than last month” and wouldn’t tell them what it was for, so they just got stickers.”
13. Ok.....
“The boss makes a dollar; I make a dime.
That’s why I poop on company time.”
14. Find the bear…
“When I worked retail, before smartphones existed, we played hide the bear.
We had small dollhouse-sized teddy bears that were random colors. One person would clean and pull the stock forward on the shelves and hide the bear.
Then they would swap out with the cashier after chatting for a bit and let the cashier hunt down the bear.
Rinse and repeat.”
15. That is nice....
“When I worked at Verizon, I taught myself how to juggle.”
That is one way to make a slow shift feel productive.
Retail environments can be incredibly challenging, often leading employees to develop unique coping strategies to manage stress. Creative outlets like juggling or other small tricks can serve as valuable tools for maintaining morale amidst the chaos of customer interactions.
Moreover, workplace camaraderie can significantly influence employees' coping mechanisms. Positive relationships with coworkers can create a supportive atmosphere that buffers against the stress of demanding customers.
Studies indicate that fostering a sense of community within the workplace can improve morale and reduce turnover rates. Employers should actively promote team-building activities to strengthen these connections.
The insights shared by retail workers on their favorite techniques for passing time underscore the critical need for a supportive workplace culture. The creative coping mechanisms they employ not only alleviate boredom but also highlight the importance of camaraderie among staff members during slower periods. By nurturing an environment that encourages creativity and collaboration, businesses can significantly enhance job satisfaction and mitigate the risk of burnout.
Moreover, considering the experiences shared in the article, investing in team-building activities could foster a more resilient workforce. This investment would likely yield positive outcomes for both employees and the customers they serve, creating a more dynamic retail experience overall.
Small, enjoyable tasks can serve as effective breaks, enhancing overall job performance.
The reflections shared by retail workers on their favorite techniques for passing time reveal a deeper truth about the nature of their jobs. Boredom is a common adversary in the retail environment, often leading employees to seek creative ways to stay engaged. The article illustrates how these workers have adapted by finding enjoyable distractions, which not only helps them cope with slower periods but also enhances their overall morale. By embracing playful tactics, such as engaging in mini-challenges or personal projects during downtime, they effectively transform moments of monotony into opportunities for skill development and camaraderie. This highlights the need for retail employers to recognize the value of fostering a more dynamic workplace culture, where creativity is not just encouraged but integrated into the daily routine, ultimately turning the tedious into the rewarding.
Next, see what happened when an employee questioned a chatty coworker’s constant interruptions.
