I've never understood what the best approach to take is when it comes to running low on work. I've tried talking to the next-up in the hierarchy or other people who could use help, but outside of that is it better to slow down on your tasks and stretch them out, but still get them done by a deadline? Or to get the task done in whatever a normal time is and spend the rest of the time researching whatever interests you and could be beneficial down the road?
My personal experience with my boss is that she likes it when work gets done quickly, but the flip of that is we've pretty much always got something we could be doing. In those rare moments there isn't anything to do, there's this sort of unspoken agreement that I can hit up Hubski and no one will judge me for it. But I also have my own cubicle so I don't think anyones judging anyways. I've never been in a cubicle. As soon as my coworker stops co-using it this week I'm decking it out in Daft Punk merch.