How To Look Busy At Work

The art of looking busy isn’t a hard one to master. Coming from an A-grade procrastinator, I can tell you that looking busy is as important as actually getting work done. Sometimes, you need to come across as a busybody because you have to get real work done and the first step is to differentiate between important tasks and urgent ones.

Once you’ve figured that out, here’s how you go about it.

1. Have the right amount of clutter on your desk. When people look in your direction they should get an impression that you’re working on multiple tasks at once. This way you’ll be bothered less. Trust me, it works. Just don’t go overboard with the clutter.

2. Don’t walk around office like you’re in the park. Have a sense of urgency in your step (even if you’re on the way to the restroom) and you’ll be surprised at how busy that makes you look.

3. It’s easy to look dazed while staring at a computer screen for long hours. Make sure your gaze is intent and it looks like you’re hard at work while watching a video of a kitten riding a bicycle.

4. Invest in a heap of Post-Its and put them at strategic points on your desk. Don’t forget to write important-sounding notes on them or just doodle. Take note: the latter should be destroyed at the end of the day.

5. If a co-worker calls out your name, pretend you heard nothing. Force them to walk over and when they do give them your best look of harassment.

6. This is the lowest of the low, but calling your desk phone from your cell-phone works in a number of situations. Cheap, I know, but effective.

7. Try not to smile too much around office. Anyone looking too happy stands out in a work environment and usually end up being targeted for tasks. Look serious.

8. Last but not the least, massage the temples and forehead at regular intervals.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.