Tips on How to Appear to be Busy at Work

In today's topsy-turvy world of productivity, appearing at ease and relaxed is perceived as laziness, and having too little to do. To the contrary, study after study show that the most relaxed and at ease among us are the most productive. Stress leads to mistakes, lack of progress, and fear in the workplace - yet those of us who consciously work to maintain calm can be passed over for promotions, or we get assigned an increasing workload until we are forced to behave in the frantic work-style of those around us in order to get it all done. Appearing "busy" while remaining calm may seem dishonest, and yes, even unethical, but nothing could be further from the truth. These tips are not intended to help you to avoid additional work, but to enable you to do the work you have while maintaining inner calm, yet retain the benefits of those who appear busy. These 12 things will not only make you look busier, but will actually help you to cultivate inner calm and increase your productivity.

1) Walk Faster - This is one of the most effective items on this list, and one of the easiest to integrate into your life. Increase your walking pace at work by about half. Brisk walking is good for you, it will increase blood-flow to the whole body, and help you to think more clearly when you get back to your desk. Brisk walking need not interrupt your zen-like state of mind, and can actually help you to retain focus. Folks look at someone walking briskly as a person on a mission, and need no know that the mission may be simply to pick up a paycheck or reload a printer. Walking faster will immediately create for you an image of motivation and drive.

2) Carry Something - Whenever you get up from your work area, take something with you. A clipboard, pile of papers, small shipping box, or a day planner - preferably open. A person carrying something is almost always TAKING it somewhere, and that means work. Try carrying a stack of papers across a good ways at your new, brisk, pace. Folks will physically jump out of your way, out of respect for your perceived mission.

3) Prioritize Face-Time - Meeting face-to-face with coworkers and customers greatly improves relationships, morale, and be association, your personal sense of well-being. Keeping good personal relationships with those you work with and for can really go a long way toward overall outlook. In terms of looking busy, though, in-person meetings are a godsend. Folks walking by an impromptu meeting see two people, tackling a problem together, and out-of-office meetings further create the image of a go-getter while allowing you some drive-time to play your favorite album and chill. Always stop back in at the office between away meetings, as a reminder that you exist, and you're not sitting at home.

4) Stop Eating at Your Desk - This one is counterintuitive to both of our goals, but very effective when put into practice. Eating at your desk may seem like a good idea - you're foregoing a break from work, clearly signaling your commitment to your work, and you're able to enjoy your meal in the only personal space you have at work - your desk. Taking your allotted lunch break away from the office, though, will go a lot further for you on both counts. Getting outside, or grabbing lunch out - away from the office - provides an automatic recharge for your personal energies, and stepping away for a break provided by the terms of your work actually creates a favorable image for you. Employers like someone with a life.

5) Talk Louder - It took me a little while to realize the effectiveness of speaking loudly. Several people in my office - an open floor plan - take their phone calls and meetings at their desks, and spend the whole time talking much more loudly than necessary. While the practice was annoying to me, it has a lot of benefits for them. Folks they meet with and talk with know that they have my coworkers' full attention, and they come across as assertive and able. To those of us sharing their space with them, there can be no question that they've been working today - we heard the whole thing.

6) Dress It Up - This is a general rule for success in any workplace. Arrange your work wardrobe so that you consistently dress one notch above the standard dress code for your peers. I work in a relatively casual environment, full of sneakers and polos. My work wordrobe consists mostly of solid color button-downs and casual dress-shoes. I don't dress so nicely as to stand out too much, but just enough to announce through my clothing that I'm serious about being here. My wardrobe has no real effect on my state of mine, but speaks volumes to those around me.

7) Engineer Some Piles - Make a mess. No, really! Make a little bit of a mess in your workspace. A few pile of papers, binders, software, or whatever you work with, arranged neatly in your workspace, create the sense of a backlog and of productivity. If you have actual work waiting for you on a back burner, arrange it so that it is in view. This will serve not only as a reminder to you of the project, but announces to those passing through that you've got a lot to do, and are working to get it done. If you must go so far as to engineer the piles, change it up from time to time, or you'll just look like a slob, not busy.

8) Create More Calls - If you speak frequently to co-workers or customers, use the phone, and not email, whenever possible. In addition to increasing the effect of point #5, above, verbal conversations can improve your relationships, and let folks around you know that you're working. If you run into a lull period, and run out of folks to call, don't be afraid to engage the services of an auto-call system, such as wakeupland, the awake brothers, or telepixie. Even if you're not at your desk, getting your phone to ring a few times does a lot for your image.

9) Stretch Your Legs - Take a walk around the office once in a while, even if you don't have to. It's extremely relaxing and signals that you're busy. Stop and check whether the printer needs paper, grab a cup of coffee, or send your outgoing mail in several trips throughout the day, rather than one batch at the end. These mini-breaks are extremely welcome during busy times, and can help you to ground yourself in your work.

10) Collaborate - At work, you're surrounded by a whole bunch of folks working toward the same end as you. In today's workplace, we have a tendency to isolate ourselves and our work from others. If you have a particularly difficult problem to solve, ask your coworkers for help. They'll be eager to help, and flattered that you've asked. Your relationships will improve, and you'll be amazed how energizing it can be, working with others once in a while. There can be no question as to what you're working on, either.

11) Take a Break - No kidding, walk away for ten minutes or so. Answer nature's call, get a brief breath of air, or have a brief chat with a coworker. You'll come back energized and get more work done throughout the day. Good, productive workers do their jobs well and come in on schedule. They're not afraid to smell the roses along the way. Taking a break now and again with confidence indicates to your manager or employer that you have everything under control, and that you don't play into the fear-based office politics that require you to be seated at your computer, typing away, every minute of the day. Take a break if you need it, and do it assertively.

12) Help Out - I love helping out around the office. It gives me a chance to visit with coworkers, gives me a break from difficult work, and shows that I'm part of the team. I'll walk around the office with a box of staples and offer folks a quick refill, or help the maintenance guy carry the trash out to the dumpster. Those who advance quickly hold themselves above nothing, and a little unusual work can break up the week in a very pleasant way.

Be productive, be busy, and look it. Maintaining your sanity in a fast-paced work environment is easier for some of us than it is for most, and even if we do have to work hard to maintain calm, we should be able to do what we can to stay in a good headspace. Use these tips, and stay happy and productive.