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Have You Ever Played Hooky from Work, and If So, What Did You Do?

Have you ever played hooky from work - like taken the entire day off on a whim to go to the movies or go to the beach? I'm not talking about forced days off when your kids don't have school or even taking the day off to accommodate a friend who's visiting in town or going on, but just not showing up.

I've never done this in all my years of solo practice, but I'm thinking about doing it now. So get me inspired - tell me about what you did on your day off and whether you've made a habit of skipping out of the office every now and then just because you can.

Carolyn Elefant

In the warmer months I drive about 20 minutes to an outdoor batting cage, and take about 100 rips off the slow-pitch machine (all I can do at age 47!!!). Then I get an ice cream cone as a reward for all the line drives I hit.

Alan S. Fanger

I do not play hooky. I take time off for myself when I can...perhaps even sometimes when I really can't or at least should not:)) It is perhaps a matter of definition. Like OC may often be stubborn, while I am not and only insist on things because I am firm in my principles.

Alan P. Bernstein

Oh woman, GO! One of my favorite pieces of advice to people is this:

"Playing hooky, much like skinny-dipping, is waaaaay under-rated."

BUT I kind of agree it is not the same doing it when you are a solo. I still take partial days off, but it is tougher to get away.

At my former big firm job that I hated, I had a standing pedicure appointment weekly -- as if my feet needed that much care for the long hours sitting under my desk! But my secretary knew I had a "appointment" and that word somehow got me off scott-free. I think partners were worried to ask as they feared they may have pushed me into therapy.

At my last job, I sometimes had to wake at the crack of dawn or before in order to make court appearances in Indio (East of Palm Springs) or Santa Monica (not as far but waaaay worse traffic). So I occasionally took a few extra hours off afterwards to hit the outlets or the beach on the way home.

But really, nothing is as good as just calling in one morning and saying "I am not going to be making it to work today, so sorry!" Oddly, no one will hear that right and think you said you are UNABLE to make it in. Then, just take a nap, eat a lovely lunch with a glass of wine, read a novel, and just do whatever your heart desires.

I think ALL my hooky time is worth its weight in gold not only for my happiness, but also because my brain gets re-energized and my perspective on life regulated.

Amy Kleinpeter

When I worked in Boulder, we called in with the "snow flu" occasionally. Of course the boss probably had a clue, but not much he could do.

I also called in one time from a beach hundreds of miles away from the office. I had taken a last minute solo vacation to the beach and called off Monday cause I had to catch a flight back to Denver. :) The trick was to call as soon as I work up, cause my voice is usually at it's worst until a few sentences spill out.

Amy Ondos

No, of course not. That would be irresponsible. But I have called in well.

CJ Stevens

Of course. I stay home and sleep as late as I want, watch TV all day and eat junk food.

Cliff Donovan

When I first went solo, six years ago I had "down time". I went to thrift shops, to seek treasures and stuff for my office. Over the years, since my practice has grown, a have totally stopped doing it. I miss it. I probably don't get enough mental health time. Of course, there are those who would say having a meaningful job is good for mental health. We are talking about balance here, I suppose, which is very hard to find. Since I've gotten busier I have come in early every day, and have shirked the exercise and running routine I used to have. I'm still seeking balance.

David A. Silvestone

I stay home, drink beer, and watch reruns of "The Practice"...the old ones when Bobby's firm was just getting by, and he and the DA (Helen) were together...

Donald Guthrie

Of course! Weekdays off for no particular reason are worth more than any weekend day. Taking a weekday off -- or even just a weekday morning or afternoon -- is magical and revitalizing. Being your own boss means that no one's taking attendance. You can do it, and you should.

What have I done when I'm playing hooky? I've gone downtown, to museums, shopping, to the mall, to the zoo, off exploring. Weekdays are far less crowded, those venues filled with kids, unemployed people, old people --- and a surprising number of people who're doing the same as you.

A few years ago I started going to the movies, more for the air conditioning than anything else. It gets hot where I live, all the way up to 100 F, for about three weeks. And I have no air conditioning. Well, no one does. And I discovered that the movies were half price before 3 p.m. The only movie-goers were people sneaking off from work.

Do it. It's decadent, and it's fun.

jennifer j. rose

[This is an anonymous post on behalf of an unnamed principal.]

[Is this "anonymous posting" like when I was a kid. If you close your eyes before you wop your sister up the side of the head, it really doesn't count?]

But to the topic of the thread:

Haven't y'all ever heard of "afternoon delight"?

Anonymous

I stay home and feel too guilty for not working or out bringing in new business, and then get depressed. Joel Selik

Oh, my, yes. This has taken many forms.

For a while I was taking one day off a month to spend in bed, or at most walk to the couch to watch a movie. No shower, no grooming, no dressing. Very revitalizing.

I've also taken daytrips. When I lived in Texas I would take one day a year to drive to the beach and environs. In the northeast, I go into NYC, or drive to Philadelphia.

And I have a history of spontaneous jailbreaks. When the sky is beautiful and there are no immediate deadlines, I head out the door for a walk -- not long, just enough to enjoy the air. When my office was in a museum district I would occasionally bolt to the art museum, or the butterfly pavilion at the museum of natural history.

One fellow solo and I used to extend our lunches with absolutely frivolous errands. We'd periodically state out loud to each other, "We're doing this because we can."

Have fun with it!

Kathy Biehl

Quite frequently, I take lunch from 12-1 and watch Matlock on TV. Sometimes, if things are slow, I will extend lunch to 1-2 and watch a second episode.

This is like playing Hooky, since I used to always eat lunch at my desk or in my car when I used to work for BigLaw. Taking an entire hour off is like a mini vacation.

Michelle J. Rozovics

Just yesterday I took off early to play tennis.

Ive taken off for tennis, to go to ball games, even on occasion to spend time with my wife. Of course if I have to- I will come in at night or on a weekend to catch up.

Lew Wiener

Nope. Never heard of it. And even if I did, I would never admit it had anything to do with son #3.

"Anonymous"

Lisa Collins

I blow off a couple Tuesdays or Thursdays every winter and go skiing. You get twice as many runs as on a weekend because there are no crowds. The key is to have a friend who will go with you, and who can do it on the spur of the moment.

Mark Del Bianco

I have. But only two times. The first time, my fiancee and I went to the zoo after a couple of crazy weeks where we didn't see each other very much b/c of work and school, then we hung out at Krispy Kreme and went out for dinner--very fun day! The second was for slightly longer--I told my boss (I was interning at the time) that I was going to be in Italy for study abroad for slightly longer than I actually was going to be in Florence (said 8 weeks, was really there for 5) because I didn't want to have to explain why I was going to Italy (5 weeks) Miami (1 week) and Captiva Island (1 week) all in the same summer. The week in between Italy and Florida, I sat at home and did nothing! (All told, though, I ended up working 12 weeks over the summer--it was just split). It sure was a fun summer though!

Mary Anson Moore

We call them "well days" or "powder days" -- when you are feeling too good to waste the day at work, when the snow is fresh and deep or the rivers are running high. I try to do it frequently, but end up taking far fewer than I plan, just because there always seems to be something that needs to be done right now. In reality, though, most of that could probably wait at least one day, so go have fun! I bet the boss won't be there to even know you area absent!

Nanci Snow Bockelie

If you work for yourself, you can't play hooky from work. I always assumed (and I have never done it) that hooky was when you feigned illness, emergency, etc. to take off time from work. You lie to your boss. When you are the boss, you can't lie to yourself. (psychologists and philosophers may beg to differ, but they mistake ignorance for lying). You know why you are taking off. Just take off. The best days off for me are those when I wake up one day and just decide to call the office and tell them I will not be there. Completely unplanned. Those seem to offer the most relief. I guess that is because I needed the relief the most at that time.

Robert W. "Robby" Hughes, Jr.

Sure, but I rather call it a mental health day. Did it today after a moderately crappy yesterday. Stopped by mom's and aerated her three acre lawn. Next time I'll try the movies or beach, cause that chore sucked.

Rogert Traversa

I call them mental health days. I usually just stay home and read, needlepoint, or just hang out. In the summer, I may go to the pool for the day.

Roni Jillions

Occasionally I'll take a few hours in the morning or afternoon to do some shopping ... if I'm feeling especially giddy about it I'll call my husband to gloat (he has a "regular" 8-6 salaried job). I rarely take a full day, but I try to enforce mental health breaks when I get a chance.

Sarah Unsicker

Anybody who knows me knows the answer to this question -- I go flying!!

Scott I. Barer

I agree that if you are working for yourself, you do not play "hooky." One of the reasons you decided to work for yourself is that you wanted to be your own boss and decide your own priorities, even though your income would reflect your choice not to seek a corner office in a big firm. If your priority is to coach youth soccer or Little League baseball (as was mine), do so without any guilt. You have paid for it.

The other thing to keep in mind is that for a solo or small firm lawyer getting out of the office regularly is recommended in order to make social and professional contacts to build your business. Just sitting in the office waiting for the phone to ring is often not enough to generate business.

My partner and I often devote a weekday to golf, weather permitting. Besides the exercise and relaxation, we have met many new folks who could turn out to be clients. ;)

Steve Petix

Oh, could I tell you stories! But years ago I just wanted to see the movie Titanic in the worst way and I wanted to see it before all the hype. So the day it premiered I went to the first matinee at 11:00 a.m. and just thoroughly enjoyed myself. That was the first time.....but I call them personal health days. That is the beautiy of being solo, answer to no one but yourself. And if you have a strong work ethic and know you will ger the work done, you get to arrange your schedule the way you see fit. I've never held to a M-F schedule unless it was court time. Sometimes I just like to work all day Sunday and Tuesday go shopping. As long as the work gets done.....

Susan Cartier Liebel

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