How to Appear Busy While Using a Computer

Last Updated: February 10, 2023

For people in school, at work or doing some "homework" using a computer on a daily/hourly basis, this wikiHow explains how you can look productive while not actually doing anything or just procrastinating without letting anyone know. If you have the inclination to look busy, but be doing nothing work-related, read on from step number one below.

Steps

1
If you have a scheduled assignment, keep it in the taskbar and prepare to fast-click to it at a second's notice. Alt-tab can also be useful here.
2
Intersperse work with downtime by working for a few moments followed by IMing, Facebooking, Googling, or whatever it is you feel like doing. This way you can relax and do your job, albeit slowly, at the same time.

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3
Write a wikiHow article on something you know about. It looks like work, and takes a good amount of typing to do. It's a perfect cover, but won't impress your boss if you're being paid to do tasks.
4
If you're at home with a laptop then try sitting with your back to a wall. That way no one can see what you're doing. Do a lot of typing that looks productive.
5
Make sure that even if you aren't doing much work, have something that looks like work open, such as an end of quarter PowerPoint or something of the sort.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I look productive while doing absolutely nothing?

Jean

Community Answer

Put on a long article with small text and just stare at it, changing it once in a while so it looks like you're reading it.
Question

What do I do if I have hemorrhoids?

Community Answer

Get yourself a medicated cream and a doughnut pillow to sit on.
Question

What happens if I get caught?

Community Answer

It depends on who catches you and what you were supposed to be doing. You might get in trouble, or they might not care at all.

Warnings

You might get caught, be alert at all times.

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Don't click out of something fast, that will draw a teacher or professor's attention. Just calmly click into another page or always go to Yahoo.com or Google!

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Don't play Solitaire/Minesweeper/any other silly game if you want to appear busy. Being caught doing something as trivial as that only shows how bored you really are.

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Don't appear to be too interested, that is a sign that you're not doing work.

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