How to Pretend You Actually Work Hard

The boss is coming! Look busy! Have you ever heard this cliche? Ever done it yourself? The pressure to constantly be productive can lead to burnout, (even if it is fake productivity) especially when you’re not entirely feeling it. Fortunately, there are clever ways to give the appearance of working hard without actually exhausting yourself. Whether you’re saving energy for a big project or just trying to get through the day, I might have some suggestions as to how one can “look” like you’re always hustling.

Master the Art of Looking Busy

It’s amazing how much you can accomplish by simply appearing busy, heck you might actually be getting work done if you “keep” busy for the sake of it! Now, this may not be the best advice for those of you that have OCD, but keeping your desk cluttered with papers, even if it’s just old reports, post-its, or random printouts could give the appearance that you are doing more than you are. A messy workspace gives the impression that you’re in the thick of important tasks. But be careful, having a messy desk could also make you look unorganized. If you know your superiors are rating you on your organizational skills, it might be best not to go overboard with this suggestion. But I have a solution! 

Consider taking things with you when walking around the office. For example: carry a notebook or a stack of papers. It’s your prop, signaling to others that you’re on a mission. Walk with purpose. Even if you're heading to the break room for a snack, act like you’re on your way to a critical meeting. And that wouldn’t be a lie! It’s Brenda’s birthday and you have a two o’clock appointment with the office birthday cake. Head to that break room with purpose like it’s the only thing that matters in your world. Your co-workers will think, “wow, Jeff’s got something important going on” and you do Jeff, you do.

Utilize the "Deep Focus" Look

This one is essential. When sitting at your desk, furrow your brow occasionally, and squint at your screen as if you’re solving a difficult problem. Stroke your chin or rub your temples. You may get acne, but who cares! At least you're giving the appearance of a top performer at your company! For a little extra zest, try sighing every once in a while for dramatic effect. These little gestures show that you're engaged in deep mentally taxing work, even if you’re only watching cat videos on reddit. 

Now for the contingency. Acting is only one small part of the illusion. Make sure to keep multiple windows open on your computer, especially spreadsheets, or emails. If a colleague or your boss walks by, quickly switch to a busy-looking screen—preferably one filled with graphs or reports. They won’t know any better. They may wonder why you’re so stressed about replying to Rob’s email but then again, they may think of that as you being overly caring about your job. And that’s what you want! 

Attend Every Meeting (But Contribute as Little as Possible)

Meetings are a goldmine for looking like a hard worker. By attending every meeting, even the ones that don’t require your presence, you give the impression that you’re highly involved in various projects. However, the key here is minimal participation. After all, you don’t want to ruffle someone’s feathers making them think you want their job. You don’t, that just means more work! Jot down some notes (or doodles) to look engaged, and every now and then, throw in phrases like “That’s a great point,” or “We should definitely circle back to that.” Careful though, speaking up on something supercritical may lead to more projects being assigned to you. It’s all about balance. 

If asked a direct question, try responding with something vague and open-ended, such as “I think we should explore that further before making any decisions.” It’s noncommittal, yet sounds thoughtful.

Leverage Email for Maximum Effect

Remember how I suggested having emails open before? Well they have more usefulness than just appearing busy on your screen. Here’s how you can really stretch that thing out for all it’s worth. Sending emails late at night or early in the morning makes it seem like you’re constantly plugged in, burning the midnight oil so to speak. Better yet, schedule emails to go out at odd hours using delayed send features. This way, while you’re watching Seinfeld (or whatever show someone that reads articles on how to work harder to be lazier is into) you’ll be a herald in your boss’s eyes!

Side tip: When sending emails, CC as many people as possible that are relevant to your topic. This not only makes you look like a team player but also creates the illusion that you’re juggling several important tasks simultaneously.

"Work" Overtime

First one in, last one out right? Here’s a tip: you don’t actually need to work during these extra hours. Show up, stay visible, then spend your time doing something relaxing. Watch some YouTube videos, scroll through your favorite social media feeds or do some shopping on Amazon. Just make sure you apply your deep focus skills that you learned about earlier in this article.

You can also do these things to help you leave late. However, there are other things you can do if you want to mix it up and look like a pro. Simple things such as tidying up your desk slowly or walking around the office pretending to make a final check on things. You peers will assume you're dedicated, and you are! Dedicated to milking that clock.

Create the Illusion of Overcommitment

You’ve mastered all the previous steps, but here’s something to help you tie it all together. If someone approaches you asking how things are going, you can simply reply “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now”. You’d be surprised at how well this works. You can drop hints that you’re involved in multiple projects and juggling numerous responsibilities. The idea here is to make others believe you’re an overachiever and that you are doing so many things to help the company. Be careful though, using this tactic can lead to people asking specific questions. And if you don’t have specific projects or tasks to respond with, things can unravel quickly. 

Be aware of people looking to help you as well. If there’s nothing for you to offer, they may become suspicious of your “overwhelming duties”. If a co-worker offers to take a task off your plate, respond with, “I appreciate that, but I can handle it. Just want to make sure I meet these deadlines”. They’ll respect your non-existent work ethic while you reap the rewards!

Conclusion: Fake It Until You Make It?

While pretending to work hard can be a humorous short-term strategy, the reality is that consistent effort will lead to real success in the long run. We all hit those lulls throughout our day. And if you're just trying to get through those slow moments/days but are worried about impressing your boss without burning yourself out, these tricks might just give you the balance you’re looking for.