a computerFor people in school/work who use a computer on a daily/hourly basis, this is a guide to looking productive while actually not doing anything.
Edit Steps
- 1If you have an active assignment, keep it in the task bar and prepare to fastclick to it at a second's notice.
- 2Intersperse work with downtime by working for a few moments followed by IMing, Facebooking, Googling, or whatever thing you do. This way you relax and do your job at the same time.
- 3Write a Wikihow on something you know. It looks like work, and takes a good amount of typing to do. It's a perfect cover.
- 4If you're at home with a laptop then try sitting with your back to a wall. Then no one can see what you're doing. Do a lot of typing that looks productive.
- 5Make 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.
Edit Tips
- Using a proxy can usually bypass filters/blocking software, but it can get you in trouble with the school IT director, so try to avoid it if you can
- Turn down/off the volume of the computer, as the bleeps and bloops of IM and other messagers will tip you off.
- Practice using the Alt-Tab strategy. You can immediately switch to another open program without using the mouse.
- In Windows, hitting the Windows and the D key simultaneously will take you to your Desktop instantly.
- Don't spend the whole period doing this. You need to do your work; this is just for little breaks you might need.
- If you get caught, be prepared with an excuse. Keep it real!
- You can always keep open a work file. For instance: If you're on myspace, or email when you should be writing a paper, keep the paper opened but minimized.
- When somebody tells you something, don't answer immediately and say, 'Shhh! Can't you see I'm busy? I can't focus both at you and at what I'm doing now!'
- If you're working online and using a tabbed web browser, it's simple to do anything you want in one tab while doing work in another. Or, try installing a remote access software such as LogMeIn on your computer, which is accessible by browser, so you can access your home computer and do stuff from anywhere.
- If you are at work, a library, or any other public place, it may be a good idea to strategically place open books, folders, or papers on and around your desk or table. Be sure to turn the pages once in a while, or pretend to read them, to increase believability.
- It's easier to appear busy if you actually are busy! Play a game or go on wikihow, it's more fun than just sitting there.
Edit Warnings
- Don't appear to be too interested, that is a sign that you're not doing work.
- You might get caught, be alert at all times.
- Don't click out of something fast, that will draw a teacher or professors attention. Just calmly click into another page or always go to Yahoo.com or Google!
- 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.
- Don't go on a porn site while at school. You probably won't notice when the teacher looks at your screen and sees what you're doing... the consequences may not be too good for you. Keep it neutral: wikiHow, a website for quizzes, the homepage of a magazine... Choose something that looks OK from afar and keeps you entertained at the same time.
Edit Things You'll Need
Edit Related wikiHows
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Article Info
Last edited:
September 11, 2010 by Maluniu
Categories:
Computers and Electronics
Recent edits by: 1spartan95, Eric, JamesBlonde (see all)
