Step 1: Wait 5 minutes, then pretend to have been working on it all along.
Step 2: Stare intensely at the task, but only for 2 seconds.
Step 3: Tap your pen on the desk to signal "hard at work."
Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3 until your supervisor asks you to stop.
Additional Tips:
For maximum effect, use a notepad to scribble "I'll get right on it" repeatedly.
Consider using a coffee cup to create an "I'll get right on it" coaster.
Remember, the key is to look busy, not actually do work.
For more advanced practitioners, try incorporating a few "uh-huh" and "yup" noises.
Myth: "If I just stare at the screen long enough, I'll magically remember what I was working on."
Reality: You'll just get a headache.
Myth: "If I type 'I'll get right on it' on a sticky note, it'll actually make it true."
Reality: It'll just make your desk look like a kindergartener's art project.
Read more about what not to do