Comments on: Have You Scheduled Your Goofing-Off Time Today?

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:16:41 +0000

Lou — GuruBBQ is so NOT goofing-off material…it’s great, educational content! At least, that’s what Tom’s been telling me…?
Seriously — it is great stuff. Definitely worth the price of subscription, too. (No worries — it’s free…just kidding!)

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:41:24 +0000

Here’s another fun way to goof off for 5 minutes:
http://www.gurubbq.com
It’s a weekly (funny)business report with marketing guy Tom Asacker. Disclosure: I help write it!
But it’s definitely worth a look…

By: Rita Wilhelm

Rita Wilhelm — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:13:51 +0000

Creating a pet award certificate online is a great way to goof off. You can do that at http://www.petboogaloo.com/award.html

By: Lenny

Lenny — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:23:32 +0000

I totally agree. Even though I think I goof around way too much and should do some more serious work instead, thinking of some typical overachievers I used to know just reminds me of how important it is to just get a distance between you and your work. After a while you just stop seeing the forest for the trees. That is the moment when you should stop forcing it and start facing the fact that your battery is empty. I think this is not only beneficial to your work, because after 10 minutes or so you’re taking it on again all fresh and brisk and maybe even inspired by the stuff you were just doing. I think it is also very important for the overall well-being to just indulge in the luxury of being able to take some time off in between.

By: David Armano

David Armano — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:28:56 +0000

I second Gavin’s statement. Goofing off is underrated and sorely needed in order to stay fresh, productive (and creative).
And it’s great to goof off both online and off.

By: gianandrea facchini

gianandrea facchini — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 17:01:34 +0000

a walk with my dogs, that’s a daily goofing!!
the best, but unfortunately too far from hometown for a daily practice, is walking through wineyards early in the morning in burgundy. i spent one month there last summer and it was very inspiring.

By: Gavin Heaton

Gavin Heaton — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 10:35:28 +0000

Goofing off is also part and parcel of “feeding” your creativity. By reading and absorbing all sorts of influences your unconscious mind can grapple with incongruous elements and allow them to pop-up as fully-realised ideas sometime later.
Not only is it good for your creativity, it is essential.

By: Kathy Smith

Kathy Smith — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 22:32:06 +0000

I go to http://www.ted.com for any sort of rehabilitation or blogblocks. It’s the most amazing site I have found. Now yours is bookmarked cause I enjoyed mousing through your spin thicket.
Kathy
If you just want to doodle try this
http://img.stamen.com/drawing/

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 20:41:53 +0000

Taking some time to fill your lungs with fresh air is decidely underrated. My friend David Armano has a habit of building in "mini-vacations" for himself -- really mini, like a few hours, like a breather. I love his concept: http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2006/10/quiet_celebrati.html ...To tell you the truth, most of my goofing-off happens offline: a mid-day dog walk, a latte, whatever. But online, some favorites: BoingBoing http://www.boingboing.net/ MediaPost's Magazine Rack, but only the stuff by Larry Dobrow http://blogs.mediapost.com/magazine_rack/ The New Yorker's Hard Drive http://www.newyorker.com/online/harddrive/ WikiHow http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page ...and when I really need to get away, I go vicariously so... http://nytimes.com/travel/

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:14:39 +0000

funny.. That’s exactly what I was doing when I stumbled across this!
I LOVE to write – and do a lot of it, but every once in a while, I totally lose all writing abilities – I like to think of my goofing off as “re-charging” it usually works too.
Thanks for making me feel better!

By: Tammy Strnatka

Tammy Strnatka — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 18:13:57 +0000

I like http://www.trendhunter.com/ and Iconoculture.com

By: Harry Hallman

Harry Hallman — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 16:10:24 +0000

Scott, this was a great blog and it reminds us all that we need to break it up to stay creative.
When I had my Web development company and a larger staff I bought Nurf guns and encouraged people to use them. Often I instigated it myself by shooting the creative director in the back of the head (something most account people would like to do). Please use a Nurf gun if you do this. (:-)
The Nurf fight would last about 10 minutes and then everyone would settle in again and work even harder.
This took the place of the seemly obligatory game room in many Internet companies. I never understood why these companies thought people would want to hang out at the company looking at movies and playing long games, after spending 10-12 hours working. Short spurts of fun are so much better.
Thanks for the links.
Harry Hallman

By: scott

scott — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:04:13 +0000

I identify, Lewis

By: Lewis Green

Lewis Green — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:03:49 +0000

Scott,
Thanks for the links. I have been goofing off for decades. I prefer to say about myself that I am a great sprinter and a lousy marathoner.