The Essential Guide to Blogging at Work on the Sly

Most of us bloggers don’t make the kind of coin that makes it possible to do this full time. We have to trek into work every day to be able to pay the bills and, as a result, blogging becomes a part time gig done in our spare time. Well rejoice because it doesn’t have to be this way! If you you can manage to land a cushy office job for yourself then you will be able to blog at work on the sly with these super sneaky strategies:

  • Use your time wisely – Save your work (the stuff you’re paid for) for when your boss and co-workers are in the office and and try to do your blogging when nobody is around. You’ll be able to relax a bit and won’t have to constantly be on your toes.
  • Blog under cover – If being on the internet becomes too obvious, do your blogging in Word or Outlook and then copy and paste the text over at a more opportune moment. Working this way gives the added bonus of a spelling and grammar check.
  • Make office-type noises – Sitting in silence for too long can cause suspicion so if you’re doing a lot of reading and things are starting to get a bit quiet, make sure you hammer at your keyboard a bit or rustle some papers around every now and then. Asking your boss if there’s anything they need done is good for added effect.
  • Make lots of tea/coffee – Keep your boss sweet by offering to make tea. Bringing in donuts or cookies occasionally is also recommended. Be careful not to kiss too much ass so as to not raise suspicion.
  • ALT -TAB switcheroo – Bosses can be known to spring on you with little or no warning. To counter surprise attacks, open up another screen (preferably something important looking like a spreadsheet) and follow these instructions: Hold down ALT… that’s right, do it with me now… and then press TAB and let go. Watch that screen change in an instant! Saves you from frantically clicking on the minimise button as your boss approaches. Super sneaky and an essential strategy for blogging at work so make sure you practice.
  • Keep on top of your work – As much as I’d like to burn all of my filing and ‘accidentally’ misplace all of my data entry stuff, I can’t. Being able to get away with murder means being good at your job and get things done on time.
  • Get a corner computer – If you’ve got a prime spot in the office so that nobody can see your screen then you’re in luck. If not, try to swap your way to the deepest, darkest corner of the office to be able to have a blogging free for all. Continuing to rustle papers every now and is still important, you don’t want to get too confident. If a secluded screen isn’t possible, make friends with the people who can see it so they don’t raise the alarm. See the point above on cookies and donuts.

Being a part-time blogger need not mean you have to lock yourself in your room on evenings and weekends tapping away frantically. Use these strategies and you’ll be blogging at work in no time! It also helps if you don’t have any work ethic and aren’t the guilty type.

WARNING: Do not, I repeat, do NOT under any circumstances go out for drinks with your boss and co-workers, get ridiculously trashed and drunkenly admit your evil plan to one and all. Very bad.

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