Timewaster

Timewaster is a term used to describe a person or thing that wastes time, typically by engaging in activities that provide little or no productive value. As a noun, it can refer to someone who habitually delays tasks by choosing distractions over work, or to an activity that occupies time without meaningful outcomes.

Common time-wasting activities include aimless browsing on the internet, social media scrolling, watching content with limited utility, prolonged meetings without clear agendas, and procrastination. The perception of what counts as a timewaster is subjective and can depend on context, goals, and individual priorities.

Impact: Time wasters reduce effective productivity and increase opportunity costs. They can contribute to stress, lower task completion rates, and undermine short-term and long-term goals. In team settings, they may delay projects and affect performance metrics.

Mitigation: Individuals can reduce time waste through self-monitoring (time tracking), setting specific goals, prioritizing tasks, and using time management techniques such as time blocking or the Pomodoro Technique. Environmental controls, such as notification management and site blockers, can limit distractions. Structuring meetings with clear agendas and timing also minimizes wasted time in organizations.

See also: procrastination, time management, productivity, distraction.