Here's how not to lose ground with the boss on those days when you just have to goof off...

Sure, everyone has days when the administrative or creative spirit within does not come to work in the morning. We're okay with that, once in a while -but your boss will almost certainly not be. And since we're creative, trouble-shooting sorts, here's our crib sheet on appearing busy.

Walk Really Fast
You may be planning to do nothing productive today, but there's no reason to let everyone know that from your saunter. Walk at a brisk clip into work, move quickly at work. It makes you look purposeful and directed. Works for you.

Dress For Impact
Don't let slouchy dressing give you away. You may have nothing harder than moving paper clips on your agenda for the day, but make sure you're dressed as if for meetings with important clients through the day. The business attire will go well with your need to slip out at odd times.

Arrive Late In Power Mode
If you're unavoidably late, dump your bag and/or laptop in your friend's office down the corridor, and wander into your office with a cup of coffee - almost as if you just stepped out for a break. A few papers in hand - that you've supposedly been reading on the stairwell - would complete the picture. The recommended facial expression is introspective but unworried.

Invent A Breakfast Meeting
You know you're going to be partying tonight, all night, and that you're going to be in late tomorrow. Pencil a breakfast meeting into your appointment and leave a message with your boss' secretary about it.
Tip: It would help if your supposed guest at the breakfast meeting were also at the party and privy to the deception.
Tip: It would most certainly help if half the office were not also at the same party.

Power-Read The Papers
Read the morning papers with pen and notepad at hand - as if all set to make important business notes. While it would not be wise to read vintage Asterix & Obelix editions tucked into the papers (like you no doubt did in college), this should help you get your comics and crossword fix for the day.

Make Personal Calls Businesslike
Okay, so if today is the day that you will catch up with old pals, and even your to-be mom-in-law (whom you've been promising to call for weeks), make sure you speak in a businesslike tone, jotting notes as you go along. And it goes without saying,no giggling or falling off your chair.

Keep Crossing Off A To-Do List
After each call, strike off a task from the exhaustive to-do list on the table before
you. (Treat the making of that imaginary list of vital tasks first thing in the morning
as one of the fun tasks of the goof-off day.)

Drink A Lot Of Coffee
It will make it seem like you're wired and all there. Of course, to ensure that you don't actually get all wired up and not there from all that caffeine, you might have to tip away a lot of the café into that handy flask for quiet disposal later.

Seem Preoccupied
The expression is it. If you look as if you have things on your mind, the powers-that-be may be fooled into believing that those things are to do with the company. As long as no thought bubbles regarding your current obsession with hair colour hover over your head, you're safe in your deception.

Be Back From Lunch On The Dot
So you need to go shopping at lunchtime... Or catch up on your friend's love life and an hour will not do! Go early, girl, and be the one back at two, with your newspaper, business papers and phone already in use before you.

Take A Break Before The Office Party
Don't want to waste an evening at a boring business party? Arrive close to closing time, work the room, and leave when the boss does. Oh, and make sure everyone knows you were working and that's why you couldn't come earlier.