Megatron, if you had something else to do to fill your time would that help? Some jobs are just like that – boom or bust. If during the “boom” you end up working overtime, then it stands to reason during the “bust” period you should get time off, rather than having to sit at your desk at work.
If it’s just the normal ebb and flow during a 40 hour week, one option might be to talk to your supervisor and see if there are other small projects -that are interesting and will hold your attention- which you could work on in between. Another option, if your work environment allows, would be to work on a project of your own making either for you or the office. Perhaps you have a project or two from home you can bring in to work on discreetly when time allows?
Although some people might not think it’s right, I can tell you that while working at every job I’ve had since age 18 I was also running my own small business out of the cubicle during “down time”. SOmetimes, even during the “up time” 