The biggest issue with having a job is often trying to look like you’re doing something when you’ve got nothing to do. Even demanding gigs have downtime, but a lot of employers still want employees to look like hamsters on a wheel. That’s why there were so many responses to this Reddit thread started by u/ScheetyWok who asked, “Office workers of Reddit, what’s your go-to activity to ‘look busy’ when you have no work to do?”
If you’re a very determined slacker, many of these ideas are probably familiar to you, but a few were surprisingly innovative. People have even made props and secret compartments to avoid doing any kind of actual work at their day job. It’s pretty inspiring, if you work hourly.
Hey, the boss makes a dollar and you make a dime, you might as well goof off on company time.
1.
Just look frustrated with whatever you’re doing.
Squint at your computer screen, shake your head, let out an occasional sigh, have a bunch of papers on your desk you can rifle through periodically.
You don’t want to look so frustrated that you might need some help, but if you do this right everybody will think you’re already too busy with something to be bothered. —J-Dizzle42
2.
Before my desk job days, when I was in retail/guest service, the equivalent was just power walking nowhere in particular with a slight scowl. Obviously meant I had somewhere important to be and shouldn’t be bothered. —givethatagoodsniff
3.
I just read interesting stuff online and if someone walks back or looks at me I furrow my brow and maybe pull on the hair of my beard by my chin. And always have a reason if someone asks what’s up – “Oh, I need this file in AI to send over and they only have the JPG…” even if it’s a problem you solved earlier, as long as it’s real it’ll do. —Administrative-Koala
4.
I have a long, colorful spreadsheet with a lot of numbers and red and green bits in it that I open and scowl at when I’m done with everything, but don’t feel like talking to my coworker.
It’s just my bookshelf. Categorized by publication year, format, genre, and language.
Yes, I made it at work. —itsFlycatcher
5.
I’m a cleaner/janitor in a warehouse complex
I just grab a broom or a bucket
Can walk laps of the place for hours without doing anything if I want —82recluse82
6.
My coworkers don’t really know computers like I do, and since my job is 90% on the computer, I just load up 3 or 4 explorer windows over a random Excel spreadsheet, and stare intently at it. —GrilledStuffedDragon
7.
Right click on random webpage
“View source”
Stare intently at JavaScript —NebXan
8.
If you work in a big enough building, you just put something important looking in one hand (papers, a clipboard works perfectly, etc) and scurry intensely from one random place to the next. Make friends in different areas, stop to chat briefly. Find the good clean remote restroom and use it. Grab a cup of coffee. Help somebody else with work that’s more interesting than yours, etc. Rinse, repeat.
As long as you’re holding something official looking (change it up) and hurrying semi-urgently from place to place you can go like this right up to your yearly review. Hopefully you managed to get some actual amazing shit done here and there along the way. —Congenital0ptimist
9.
I had a coworker who used to fill a cup with coffee every afternoon, then he would start his afternoon rotine wich consisted of entering in every room and chat about 15 minutes with the guys who worked there, then he would leave and enter the next room… this bastard could spend more than 2 hours just carrying his coffee around the rooms. —Bored_npc
10.
Reviewing. Going over work you did for the day “just to make sure I did everything right”. —Vyzantinist