Padding out your current workload

It’s often the case you should always over-estimate time to do a job and protest you’ve got too much work on.  Yet all you do is cruise at 5mph thru the day so you’ve plenty of mental energy left for after-work recreation.

It’s a well known tactic.  Try and make you adversary (boss) sympathise with your workload - this method works best when you have numerous demands from numerous bosses.  Telling them you’ll prioritise them when you don’t is another tactic to keep it smooth. 

Keep them hanging till the last minute, then you’re the hero.

They’ll just be relieved when you deliver and feel you’re an important cog in the machine.