10 Things To Do To Make It Look Like You’ve Done A Day’s Work

6. Jog on the spot.

If you can get yourself to that ‘slightly breathless, slightly flushed and sweaty’ stage, it helps you to argue that you’ve been run off your feet. This may also have the additional bonus of inviting sympathy and/or an offer of a foot massage.

7. Divert and distract.

Put the kettle on and present your SO with a hot cuppa upon arrival, or crack out a stubby holder and cold one. This sounds like a thinly veiled ‘put out some slippers and a pipe’ suggestion, but a small offering might get off on a good behaviour bond. Alternatively, consider making an important phone call while you complete #1-#6, so that when your SO walks in, they can see you are at a critical point with a serious transaction, and they’ll probably back off and leave you to it.