Not everything people buy is meant to be useful. Instead, they do it to make a point, usually to show off how busy they are…or at least, how busy they’re trying to seem. We spoke to a few readers & here are ten things they told us they buy, just to seem busy. Which of these have you bought yourself or seen someone use?
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Mouse jigglers that keep their status green
One special gadget does nothing but jiggle your cursor. It’s so your computer never thinks you’re away. Simply plug it in, or sometimes just hold the mouse & wiggle it around, then your computer (and your employer) will register that you’re busy…even though you’re really not. These devices keep their status dots green, all day long.
Extra monitors nobody really uses
There are a few people who will set up two, even three screens at work, simply because they want to make it seem like they’re juggling big projects. But reality says something else. They’ll have one monitor with their inbox open & the other running YouTube in the background. Sure, multiple screens help certain jobs. Yet it’s just a flashy way to look busy for most people.
Branded productivity notebooks
You know the kind of notebook. They’re the expensive ones that claim to “hack your schedule,” and people buy them to write a few lists inside. Then they never open them again. A regular spiral notebook would’ve done the same job, but having the branded one sitting on their desks gives the impression that every second is accounted for.
Giant wall calendars
There’s no denying that a huge wall calendar looks quite striking when it’s hanging in a room, especially when it’s covered in neat handwriting & little color codes. But is there any point to it? Most of the events on these calendars are already on their phones, so the wall version is simply a decorative piece. It’s a way of telling other people just how busy they are.
Fancy styluses for tablets
Yes, a stylus can be useful for anyone who’s sketching or editing graphics. But so many people buy one just to look like they’re doing something useful by digitally writing notes or sketching in meetings. Nine times out of ten, these fancy styluses end up sitting in a drawer. They’re not exactly useful, but instead, a way to look sleek & modern while tapping a screen.
Smart mugs that keep coffee warm
People love buying smart heated mugs because they look rather high-end & make someone seem like they’re serious about their work. This is a person who’s so busy that they don’t have time to make another coffee. However, such a gadget ends up more of a conversation piece than anything useful.
Label makers for home offices
Whenever someone first buys a label maker, it’s always quite exciting. Suddenly every drawer & cable box has a tag. But a month later, chances are that the label maker is stuffed in the back of a closet, while the old labels stay in place. It makes their desk seem put-together…even though nothing’s actually organized behind those neat little stickers.
Desktop shredders
People buy desktop shredders with the idea that they’ll be using them all day to destroy piles of sensitive files. They’re just that busy. But in reality, most people barely touch them & just a couple of junk mail letters go through every so often. It makes the office look serious. Yet the paper load never justifies having it.
Decorative corkboards
At first, corkboards seem useful. A few sticky notes & some color markers, maybe even a motivational phrase pinned up, and the whole thing makes a person look like they’ve got a dozen projects to deal with. Perhaps they do. But after a while, the corkboard turns into background décor with photos of office parties that seems rather pointless.
Multiple desk timers
Buying more than one timer is an easy way to pretend you’re running on a strict schedule, and some people use fancy digital ones, while others go for cubes that flip between times. Either way, they usually end up ignoring them after the novelty wears off. But they’ll stay on their desks. Why? Because it seems as though every task is carefully managed down to the minute.
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