Twiddling My Thumbs: The Tech Admin’s Guide to Getting Paid for Doing Nothing
Ever fantasized about being paid to read books and browse the web all day? For one young Systems Administrator, that dream job turned out to be a source of unexpected anxiety rather than bliss. In a popular post on r/TalesFromTechSupport, u/bartonkj shares the story of watching his beloved Banyan Vines network fade into obsolescence at a Fortune 500 company, leaving him with little to do… except twiddle his thumbs and wait for a problem that never came.
But as the story unfolds, it’s clear that doing nothing can be surprisingly stressful—especially for a go-getter itching for action. And isn’t that a dilemma many of us have faced in our own careers?
The Tech Admin’s Dilemma: Too Much Time, Too Little To Do
Imagine you’re hired to keep a once-state-of-the-art system running smoothly. The catch? The company is already moving to something newer and shinier—Windows NT, in this case. Your once-busy servers are now as stable as a rock and about as popular as dial-up internet. The users are migrating away, the system is humming along, and your biggest challenge is figuring out how to kill time without looking suspiciously idle.
For u/bartonkj, this meant a daily routine of web browsing and book reading, all under the watchful eye of guilt. “I had a real psychological problem with this,” he admits. “I kept thinking I needed to be productive and busy, but there just wasn't anything to do.” The anxiety of being “caught” not working—even when there’s literally nothing to do—will resonate with anyone who’s ever had downtime in a salaried role.
The Wisdom of the Boss: “We’re Not Paying You to Keep Busy”
Here’s where the story takes a turn: Barton finally confides in his boss, expecting perhaps a lecture or a new pile of tasks. Instead, his boss offers a rare gem of managerial wisdom: “Don’t worry about it. We’re not paying you to keep busy when things are going well. We’re paying you to fix problems when/if they come up.”
That’s it. No busywork, no endless ticket queues, just a paycheck and a mandate to keep the ship afloat. If nothing’s broken, you’re doing your job.
It’s a lesson in the value of “invisible labor”—the kind of work that’s only noticed when it’s not being done. System Administrators, network engineers, and countless other “behind-the-scenes” tech pros know this feeling: the better you are at your job, the less anyone sees you working. Paradoxically, excellence often looks like idleness.
The Curse of the Go-Getter (and the Gift of Hindsight)
But that’s not how it feels when you’re young and ambitious. The Redditor admits he never quite got comfortable with this arrangement, despite his boss’s reassurance. “I still didn't feel 100% comfortable with it. Man, now I would totally eat that shit up. I wish I could have fully enjoyed what I had when I had it. Oh well, so it goes…”
We’ve all been there—worrying about appearing productive rather than actually being effective. It’s a symptom of “hustle culture,” where activity is often valued over outcomes. But as anyone who’s lived through a few tech transitions can tell you, those rare stretches of calm are the reward for all the late nights, the fire drills, and the panicked “the server’s down!” phone calls.
Lessons for Tech Pros (and the Rest of Us)
So what can we learn from this tale of thumb-twiddling?
- Enjoy the Lulls: If you’re in IT, banking, or any field where “uptime” is king, remember: no news is good news. Enjoy the peace—you’ve earned it.
- Redefine Productivity: Sometimes, being “productive” means making sure there’s nothing to do. Take pride in the invisible work.
- Talk to Your Boss: A little reassurance can go a long way. If you’re feeling uneasy about your workload, have that conversation.
- Savor the Slow Days: Trust us—when the next crisis hits, you’ll be wishing for another day of bored browsing.
What About You?
Have you ever been paid to do (almost) nothing? Did you love it, hate it, or—like u/bartonkj—only appreciate it in hindsight? Share your own tales of downtime in the comments!
And remember: sometimes the best work you can do is making sure there’s no work left to do.
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Original Reddit Post: Twiddling My Thumbs