10 ways to cyberslack

Employees all over the world spend up to a fifth of their working day cyberslacking, or wasting time on the Internet, studies show.

Here are 10 ways cyberslackers can pass the time at work. (Warning: Your workplace may prohibit access to the sites)

1. Network:
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) is popular with students and business professionals. MySpace (http://www.myspace.com) uses more graphics and video. Companies, bands and celebrities often use the site to promote themselves.

2. Rant about work:
Rant about fellow employees on the Annoying Coworker site (http://www.annoyingcoworker.net). Are customers getting you down? Try Customers Suck (http://customerssuck.livejournal.com).

3. Going once...:
Buy or bid for rare things not usually found in shops. Score vintage clothes, old music records or even that sword from the Lord of the Rings movies you've been eyeing on Ebay (http://www.ebay.com).

4. Judge beauty contests:
Rate people (http://www.hotornot.com), animals (http://www.ratemypuppy.com) or rooms -- even college dorms (http://ratemyspace.hgtv.com). Let puppies (http://puppywar.com) and kittens (http://kittenwar.com) battle it out for cuteness.

5. Catch up on celebrity gossip:
It may be superficial, but it sure is fun. Read about celebrities' latest exploits at The Superficial (http://www.thesuperficial.com) or Oh No They Didn't (http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com).

6. Write in a personal blog:
Post stories, rants and pictures on your own online journal. Popular hosts include Blogger (http://www.blogger.com) and Livejournal (http://www.livejournal.com). You can also link to your friends' journals and exchange comments on separate posts.

7. Put a story behind the face:
Read what it's like to be a waiter (http://www.waiterrant.net) and you may end up tipping better. Or read about the life of a coffee barista (http://baristabrat.blogspot.com), a New York City taxi driver (http://newyorkhack.blogspot.com) or a London subway station supervisor (http://lifeonthetube.blogspot.com).

8. All work and no play
Turn the sound down on your computer if people are around
and play online card, arcade or word games at Yahoo! (http://games.yahoo.com) or MSN (http://games.msn.com).

9. Run your own sports team:
Sports fans can manage their own virtual team in a fantasy league (http://fantasysports.yahoo.com).

10. I'm no slacker:
Keep your cyberslacking secret. If you are using Windows, push the Windows button and M to minimise your programs. Or toggle from the site where you are cyberslacking to Don's Boss Page (http://www.donsbosspage.com), which displays a fake spreadsheet to fool your supervisor.

REUTERS