What do you do with days off?

[campermom]

Last year I took a day off at the end of the year and did a run and ate breakfast out by myself. I lounged the rest of the day. It was glorious and I’ve promised myself to do this every year.

The schedule hasn’t really worked out, but my dad has an appt today so I took off for that. So far I dropped the kids off, ran 3.5 on a trail and took a soak in the tub. We will go to his appointment, the DMV and then lunch. After that I’m free.

What would you do with the afternoon?
(I’m NOT spending the time folding laundry or doing chores.)
Take a nap?
Catch a movie? The only one would be Rocketman.
Binge on Netflix and eat junk?

[twinmomma]

I'd probably go wander someplace like Home Goods for a while. When it's a nice day and I'm free during the day, I always feel guilt staying holed up indoors, so I would go with outdoor relaxing like reading a book.

[covergirl82]

I agree with twinmomma on reading a book outside.

Maybe going on a "fun" errand, someplace you've recently thought, "I'll go there next time I have some time."

Take a nap if you need some rest.

[waverly]

I inevitably end up doing chores typically front loaded during the day. I get a few of these because I work every 6th Saturday or so. I dream of a hammock, so maybe I would buy one and read outside.


We saw Rocketman. It was good, more like a musical. It kind of felt like it could easily be a play. Going to the movies feels decadent since we couldn't for so long. We have a babysitter now- yay, so we've been able to go lately.

[campermom]

I Do have a hammock! I may end up there. I’m also considering lounging at my parents pool and asking my dad for a ride in his corvette. Top down!

[2chatter]

I’d be outside for sure!
I love those days and used to take them 1-2 times a year. I miss them sooo much.

[mae0111]

When I worked FT I would periodically take random days off without the kids. My favorite type of day would involve me heading to the beach alone. I’d walk for an hour to 90 mins- workout pace for a chunk, then slowly to look for sea glass. Then I’d sit with my feet in the sand with a bagel and then a book for a couple of hours. Maybe grab lunch alone outside someplace on my way home.

I think my blood pressure just went down typing that.

[katespade]

I would get something to drink and go wander around a store for a while. I really miss meandering with no pressure to get in and out as quickly as possible. Then, I would go home and take a bath with some music and a good book. If I had time, I'd finish the afternoon with a TV show or movie and some junk food.

[madringal]

Lazy morning drinking coffee on my patio, head to the beach for a nice long hike, grab lunch from my favorite Mediterranean place, come home and take a long hot shower, binge on netflix, take a nap.

[mommyatty]

Nap. Never turn down the opportunity to nap. Preferably outside on my patio in the shade by the pool. Also, I would read because I love it, and maybe get a pedicure.

[supertrooper1]

I always seem to have a running list of things that I want to do on my own. Usually at the top, a pedicure, trying a new restaurant, leisurely shopping, a nap, or catching up on a tv show. Sometimes I'll throw in a walk, try a new recipe or go to a yoga class.

[mustardseed2007]

I need a pedicure so bad.

[rere]

If I had access to a pool, that is exactly where I would be, with a book, maybe a drink, some nice snacks.

[sdlaura]

What's a day off? Just kidding - I get enough days off, they're just for specific things and I don't feel like I have enough time to take one where I don't have a commitment or have to watch a kid because daycare is closed.

I usually end up doing half day chores/things that I'm excited to get done and half day something fun. I'll float around our pool, or go to the spa near my office for a massage and sit by their pool for a couple hours with a book.

[divanerd]

Sadly I normally have some thing planned that day but I eat breakfast on patio or out at local restaurant then read a book outside.

Yeah I sound like a loner

[mommyatty]

I am actually going to have a day off today. My stomach has been weird the past 36 hrs while I’ve been traveling. So I’m taking the day to go to an eye doc appt and just kind of rest. MIL offered to take the kids this morning but we hadn’t heard a peep from her by the time I left for my appointment. She will prob want them this afternoon when I would like to spend time with them.

[k3am]

I always saaaaay I'm going to take a day off just for me, but end up using them for kid stuff or vacations. I have tomorrow off.. because DD's school ends today, and camp starts Monday. I'm taking two days next week when my sister visits, and one day in July so we can have a 3 day weekend in Tahoe. That kind of stuff.

I used to get "forced" days alone, and they were great - I get bank holidays, DH had to work them, and daycare was open. Those disappeared once DD started kinder, since schools close for those days too. But honestly, I think I enjoy my days with just DD more than I did with just me.. because then I actually do something vs. laying in bed and reading all day.

I'll have 5 days off work by myself in August as part of our mandatory 2 week consecutive vacation policy. I'm looking forward to them!

[covergirl82]

k3am, wow a mandatory 2 weeks off?! Sounds amazing! Enjoy your 5 days by yourself!

[mustardseed2007]

k3am, this is such a good idea.

[k3am]

Jun 6, 2019 13:09:18 GMT -5 covergirl82 said:

k3am , wow a mandatory 2 weeks off?! Sounds amazing! Enjoy your 5 days by yourself!

It is THE BEST THING. In my industry, it's a "requirement" for regulatory purposes, but I've never heard of another company that actually enforces it. This company takes it seriously. Like.. I got reported to the BOD because I didn't take my mandatory 2 week vacation. They accepted my reason of "DD needed brain surgery, so I had to cancel a portion of my originally scheduled 2 weeks in order to have enough time to be out with her and another co-worker has cancer" but it was pretty hardcore. 

[2chatter]

I am the opposite k3am - I asked to not be required (I have no trading access) because burning half of my vaca at one time - not allowed at Christmas - was not appealing. It would way stress me out to have to take two full weeks at one time.

[k3am]

2chatter, ours is a matter of internal controls/FDIC regulations/best practice. Forcing someone in my role to be out of the office requires new eyes to come in and manage a portfolio, and that's one of the easiest ways to detect fraud or mismanagement (intentional or not).

I know of at least 3-4 times (in a prior life) that I've backed up someone while they were on vacation and found out that someone was effing up really, really badly, one time resulting in termination.

We don't have any prohibitions about when we can or can't take vacations, so that helps, but I do have to coordinate with a coworker who also has a school aged child so that we don't overlap. I take my two weeks in the summer, a handful of days at Christmas, and then scatter days here and there throughout the year (usually ski season and summer).

[mrspez07]

I found I overschedule these type of days if I’m not careful. I took one for my birthday in January and plotted out some of it and winged other parts. I liked not trying to jam so much in and being indecisive about what to do.
I did a tea, ate lunch out, lounged around home in the morning and then went shopping for quilt fabric in the afternoon and then had scheduled a massage.