What can I do at work to make myself look busy?
78917
You can go to http://www.boredatwork.com for some games, or go to http://www.neopets.com and play games there.  Or, of course, as one person mentioned, you could answer questions at Yahoo! answers . . . but then, you run out pretty fast.  I would also recommend setting up a blog at http://www.livejournal.com .  That will give you something to do that looks busy as well.  As long as no one sees your computer screen, you look deeply engrossed in work.  Trust me.  I'm a pro.  I do this stuff all day. :)
569720
Start by taking a 1 month vacation with at least 2 weeks spent doing nothing!  Then ease yourself into doing things that you used to love...run, plant flowers, shop, etc. (whatever)\n\nThen when you go back to work, make yourself slow down.
899980
It sounds like you are due a vacation. Submit your request to your manager in writing. This way your manager does not feel pressured to answer you while you are standing there. In your request, make certain to list the positive things you have done for the company and also indicate that you are due the vacation time
152882
Have a 'pizza' day or the like.  (Bribery can go a long way :) )\n\nHave group projects to get them to have more teamwork and get along better.\n\nStand up for them. (try to show that you, as the boss, are the same as them, the employee) - but not so much that you're not still seen as the boss!
902033
JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK .\nTHEN SOMEDAY YOU MAY BE THE BOSS
421690
1.Read a daily/weekly quote aloud for you and your team members to hear. Something that is inspiring/entertaining/silly/witty that everyone can enjoy. \n\n2.Give gifts, make your co workers feel happy and cared for. You will find that this is really contagious and it will make everything less serious and more family oriented.\n\n3.Plan to watch the same movies for the weekend so that you can have something to talk about on boring Mondays.
508386
One of the most important thing is to organize it, decide how much time u will spend in each activity u want to get done. Get an agenda it might help you.
920745
just remind them that your all on the same team and that you take your orders from whoever your boss really is or when they give you orders say, sorry but can't, i have to have this done because whoever asked me for it.  sooner or later they will get the picture.
819212
I know exactly what you are referring to as that "look of desperation".  I have seen this happen in both large and small companies, where certain individuals always seem to be scurrying around with worried looks on their faces as if they have deadlines for each minute of the day.  Yes, during certain peak times a department will have major deadlines to meet and every employee within that department will feel the crunch.  You will find these crunch times are prevelant within small, rapidly growing companies where maintaining a trained staff is extremely difficult during periods of rapid growth.  However, as a manager in various corporate environments, I have found that some employees use this desperate appearance to look busy and avoid additional projects or workloads.  Their reasoning seems to be if I look as if I'm overworked and stressed, no one will ask me to take on any additional work.  This reasoning might work for a while, but eventually someone will get wise to the fact that there is a lot of racing around but no production!  I think that most managers are tuned in to this type of behavior and can spot it fairly quickly. \n\nAs a new employee, the best approach to this situation is to handle your responsibilities in an efficient and cheerful manner.  It is not necessary that you maintain this strained appearance nor act as if the weight of the company rests on your shoulders.  In an environment such as this, socializing and wasting time will certainly get you booted out the door, so take care that you don't let that happen to you.  If you finish your work for the day, make sure you either approach your manager or a co-worker to offer assistance.  Your calm approach in comparison to your co-workers' desperation will be noted and you will be appreciated for your professionalism.  This behavior can help you move up the corporate ladder quickly, as your superiors will be impressed by your ability to remain calm under pressure.
1045127
Network.  Schmooze.  Build strong relationships with co-workers.  Be seen.  Be visible.  Speak pro-actively with your boss.  Be the person who anticipates problems and then takes care of them.  And communicate that you are doing this.\n\nAnd of course, do an outstanding job!
130892
Well, if they are your coworkers.... You don't need to do anything, just do your work and make sure the boss knows what you are doing, eventually he/she will realize that they are lazy.\n\nIf you are the boss... take away the internet so people won't waste time surfing the net :)
1126886
Get a second job.  That should keep you busy.
62241
Start by leaving work at the workplace, do not bring it home.  Use the time going to work to psych yourself up (I know I can do this, it is only a few hours...) and use the time getting home to dump (Wow, do I work with a bunch of ....).  Finish dumping before you get home.  Scream if you need to (so who care what stranger think, right?).\nRelax.  Even if there a a list of things which need to get done that is a mile long, home is the nest for feeling safe a secure.  Calm down.  You are home.  You made it through another day.  Spend five to fifteen minutes listening to music or talking with any family which might be home.  Pet the cat if you have one.\nOkay, now you are ready do what ever you need to get done (dinner, chores, workout, whatever).  Think about what you need to do and then get up and do it.\nYou will find that if you do a really ggod dumb on the way home, you will be very much more effective once you get there.  This will allow more time (including the kick back time).\nA couple of other things:  a good balanced meal is better than skipping one 'cause you ain't got the time.  Lights...  lots of lights.  What you pay in electric bill is cheaper than drugs and the light (especially in the winter) will have a great effect.\nYou might want to investigate meditation.  It also can work wonders.
601877
Learn to crochet or knit... start writing short stories... practice your typing skills with free online typing lists... read non-fiction material... read a journalistic magazine...\n\nAre you bored?  Perhaps you could speak to your employer about giving you a heavier workload if they won't allow you to do any of those other things mentioned above.
37628
Try to figure out what you can do to make yourself more interesting to the boss. Take classes, join clubs with good reputations, and volunteer both at work and out of work. if those things don't get you a better poistion with your current employer your have a lot of things to put on your new resume for the next job.
895489
Get your Dr to give you a note for your boss that says you MUST get up and walk around every hour.  Then take a quick walk around your office space, and stretch as much as you can.  You can get an exercise thing for at your desk that simulates pedaling a bike, and that way you can keep your legs moving.  On your breaks, and lunches walk around your building if possible.\n\nStay away from those silly Ab belts, they are a scam.  \n\nWhile sitting at your desk, sit up straight, and hold your tummy in for a 5 count, let it out for 5, and hold it in for 5.  Do this as much as possible.  Also, clench your butt to the same count.
200492
How about not chatting and doing some work?\n\nUseless employees...