{"id":196927,"date":"2024-07-23T15:18:41","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T22:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=196927"},"modified":"2024-10-16T11:09:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T18:09:31","slug":"hooky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/hooky","title":{"rendered":"In Praise of Playing Hooky"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A deceptively wise young man in Wayfarer shades once reminded us how quickly life goes. \u201cIf you don’t stop and look around once in a while,\u201d Ferris Bueller says, \u201cyou could miss it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While that teenage hooky-player extraordinaire might not be the best role model, you\u2019ve got to admit: He has a point. If our lives are just a loop of waking up, working, eating and sleeping, we run the risk of suffering burnout. Think of the opportunities we\u2019d miss: to laugh with a loved one, watch the painted sky of a sunset or just appreciate that we\u2019re here today, breathing in and out\u2014and what a gift that is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we want to work hard and work well, but there\u2019s the irony. Science shows that taking regular breaks actually makes us more productive and can prevent burnout. That\u2019s because when we focus, our prefrontal cortex isn\u2019t only thinking logically; it\u2019s working hard to resist distractions, according to research published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology<\/a><\/em>. Hard concentration takes energy\u2014energy that gets depleted with each passing minute. The study <\/strong>assures us that we all need to recharge and replenish our batteries after that kind of exertion, and even very short breaks may do the trick: \u201cFor this reason, while it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular breaks can actually help you be more productive than working without stopping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, it’s a good idea to Opt Outside sometimes\u2014even if it means skipping work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More bosses should recognize the importance of that fact, argues<\/a> neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart. Her studies have found that showing up to work actually costs businesses around 2.5 times as much as an employee not showing up at all because burnt-out employees may have their butts in the chair but their brains elsewhere. They need a break\u2014and research says<\/a> one of the best breaks to take is to get moving outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We asked our REI Member, partner and staff community how they\u2019ve done just that\u2014taken breaks to be outside\u2014either with or without permission from their higher-ups. Some asked their manager for a little time off. Others suddenly (suspiciously) caught a nasty bug or discovered that a distant relative had just kicked the bucket. One temporarily retires every few years. But they all have one thing in common: They recognize that sometimes a not-sick day is just what the doctor ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on for their best hooky anecdotes, glean lessons from their well-thought-out rationales for ghosting work for a day and get tips on how you can follow suit. And share your own stories about Ferris Bueller\u2013ing in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author\u2019s note: <\/em><\/strong>Some names have been omitted or changed to protect the identity of these well-intentioned hooky-players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Life: Don\u2019t Miss It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes nature heals. Sometimes it brings people together. Always, it\u2019s a source of wonder worth stopping (and maybe skipping work) to enjoy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bob Porter: “Looks like you’ve been missing a lot of work lately.”
Peter Gibbons: “I wouldn’t say I’ve been missing<\/em> it, Bob.”
\u2013 Office Space<\/em> (1999)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Serenity now<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInstead of driving to class, I detoured and drove to the Angeles National Forest for a much-needed hike. It always amazes me how being outside in the stillness of nature makes everything else seem so small. I sat near a small waterfall and meditated. All my problems dissolved, and all I felt was serenity and gratitude for life and its blessings. I drove back feeling refreshed and determined to keep going, allowing nothing and no one to bring me down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Kayla D., Outdoor Afro<\/a> ambassador. REI Member since 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Kayla D.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In the name of love<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYears ago, when I was super early in my career, I called in sick to work to go on a third date with my now partner. Like a lot of folks these days, I met Joe through a dating app, and we immediately hit it off. We\u2019d had a few really great dates but hadn\u2019t gone on a true outdoor adventure together yet. When he texted me late on a Wednesday to see if I wanted to skip work to go hike Pyramid Peak (one of our local Colorado 14ers) during peak fall foliage the next day, I did not hesitate. I texted my then boss that I was feeling under the weather, scrambled to reorganize my meeting calendar and called in sick. I remember feeling so scared and guilty at the time, but the moment my shoes hit the trail, I knew it was the right choice. It truly was one of the most amazing, perfect, blue-sky days in the mountains ever. It was also the day where I realized Joe was someone I wanted to spend a long, long time with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Emily Banks, North American brand communications at On<\/a>. REI Member since 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Emily Banks<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rime and reason<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne January weekday, I woke up early to let the dog outside and was startled by the scene in the backyard: The air was foggy and mysterious, and everything was covered in crystal needles of rime ice. It had so far been a somewhat disappointing winter, weather wise (nothing unnerves a Minnesotan like a January without fresh, heavy snowfall)<\/ins> and the glint off the rime-coated trees was the first magical thing I\u2019d seen in the new year. I immediately knew I needed to be surrounded by it, so I fired a quick message off to my boss (\u201cI\u2019ll be a little late today\u201d) and drove to the nearest state park, about 35 minutes away. I strapped on my Microspikes<\/a> and crunched into the woods, enveloped in cold fog and immersed in this fascinating, slightly unsettling landscape. The tall trees were completely washed with white quills of ice, like they\u2019d become cactus. The only way I can describe the scene (and this is a very nerdy description) is that it looked like Narnia before Aslan. I walked around the park completely alone, looking up the whole time. It lasted about two hours before the sun broke through the clouds, burned off the fog and melted the rime. I went into work a little later, feeling somewhat touched by magic. I haven\u2019t seen anything like that again so far, and I\u2019m glad I took the chance to be curious, get a closer look and officially welcome winter in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Ever Meister, REI Co-op program manager and editor for <\/em>Uncommon Path<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Expert Advice<\/em><\/a>. REI Member since 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Ever Meister<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Money savvy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI skipped school for a week while we traveled around New Zealand. One day, we took a water taxi and did a day walk to a beach at a national park. We collected lots of sand dollars on the beach\u2014about a million dollars\u2019 worth!\u2014and made little farms for them. We were careful not to hurt them. I like school, but on the hike, I saw the beauty of nature. And I learned what a sand dollar was!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Charlie S., age 8, northern Colorado. Child of an REI Member (i.e. the author) since 2011.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Courtney Holden<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Play hooky \u2026 and land your dream job?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOddly, I got my current job playing hooky from my previous job. I was a bartender and cook, but I always wanted to work at Patagonia<\/a>. After college, I started paddling outrigger canoes with a local team. I ditched a bartending gig one night to go paddle. That night, I sat next to a former Patagonia employee. We got to talking, and he asked me where I work. I told him but followed up that I\u2019d been trying to get a job at Patagonia. He giggled and told me he knew a manager whose Achilles\u2019 heel was fish tacos and beer. Later that week, I found myself having lunch with my new teammate and future boss. Several fish tacos and Anchor Steams later, I had myself a job interview. I\u2019ve been at Patagonia for 14 years now, and I still paddle outrigger canoes with the same team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Corey Simpson; communications manager, product and sport community for Patagonia. REI Member for longer than he can remember.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Corey Simpson<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Four Good Reasons to Opt Outside<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The results are in<\/strong><\/a>: Getting away from a desk to get into the wild pays dividends for our physical and psychological well-being. In fact, just a few minutes in nature can revive a tuckered-out brain. So, if you want to be a better worker, try spending time away<\/em> from your job\u2014ideally outdoors.<\/strong>

\u201cThe elders were wise. They knew that man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard; they knew that lack of respect for growing, living things, soon led to lack of respect for humans, too.\u201d
\u2013 Chief Luther Standing Bear, Lakota Sioux<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Leave the office to benefit the office<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever one who liked the interplay of cars and bikes, I\u2019d go to the nearest bike path and just start cruising. Sometimes hard, sometimes slow, but always the steady rhythm of the wheels turning. My mind would relax, answers to dilemmas would come to me, and I\u2019d realize that I was smiling without even being aware of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Joan Denizot, founder of ZIZE Bikes<\/a>. REI Member since 2017.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Team-building exercise<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn more than one occasion I\u2019ve given my team permission to log off early\/not log on at all. For instance,
we’ll go on a hike together in the morning, we\u2019ll get lunch and then we’ll end this ‘work’ day early. Is it hooky or is it team building? You decide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Heather Young, REI senior manager of Product Copy and Copy Editing. REI Member since 2005.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Heather Young (giving thumbs up). The REI Co-op Product Copy and Copy Editing team is pictured.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Getting outside is a walk in the park<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI resolved I would take all large, virtual group meetings (ones where my actual face on the screen wasn\u2019t necessary) outside, walking. I would dial into the meeting and force myself out the door, away from the laptop screen. I treated the call like a podcast or audiobook and often found that I would pay more attention listening to what people were saying than I did zoning out staring at all the tiles on the screen. It\u2019s incredible what time outside can do, even when you\u2019re still technically working. The cool marine air, the chirp and trills of birds, the crunching of leaves and twigs underfoot: I always felt more refreshed after these meeting walks. I looked forward to meetings when I knew I would be able to get outside. Of course, I know instinctively about the healing power of nature, but hectic schedules often get in the way and work\/life consumes us. But it\u2019s easy if you start small: What\u2019s one thing you can do now within your busy schedule to get outside? Can you block out time in your day for the outdoors?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Phuong Le, managing editor of the REI Co-op publications Uncommon Path<\/a> and Expert Advice<\/a>. REI Member since 1996.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Phuong Le<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Stepping back, gracefully<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was younger, I\u2019d fake being sick during times I didn\u2019t feel safe. What I realized was, as long as you are living in your truth, you\u2019re not going to please everybody\u2014and that\u2019s OK. [Now], if I need to take a step back from work, I don\u2019t play hooky. I\u2019m very honest with what I need from my team and am usually granted the opportunity to take a step back to reflect, whether that be outdoors or in therapy. It\u2019s important for me to feel grounded when stepping out into this big planet we call home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Samiere, Outdoor Afro<\/a> ambassador. REI Member since 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tips for Playing Hoo\u2014er, Opting Outside<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Convinced it\u2019s time for a little you time? Here are some tried-and-true ways to get the A-OK from the corner office.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I\u2019ll bet they\u2019d live a lot differently.\u201d
\u2013 Calvin and Hobbes<\/em> (1992)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tell the boss to take a hike<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I want to take a day off from slinging socks and have a personal day in nature, I either fake an illness, claim my fifth or sixth grandparent has died\u2014again\u2014or just simply leave and hope the boss, the founder, doesn\u2019t find out. I hear she can be a real hard-ass.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Brittany Coleman, founder and CEO of ToughCutie<\/a>. REI Member since 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Brittany Coleman<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Prepare financially<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery 3.5 years, I take a break from whatever job I\u2019m working and take a six-month sabbatical. I do this because, at a large scale, balancing focus between work goals and life goals is important. For me, that means thinking of big things I would like to do in life and making them happen. It costs money to do this, so I have to be prepared and save money well in advance for the time away from work, but that\u2019s just more motivation to have very dialed finances. It\u2019s risky, but when you think about it, nothing is guaranteed. I want to maximize life now. If I\u2019m alive at 70, I\u2019ll live it up then too\u2014I can bird-watch or knit a hat\u2014but there are just some things that I have to get in now if I want to do them. And I do want to do them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 William Q., Boulder, Colorado. REI Member since 2004.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Use time zones to your advantage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis past April, we took off to Kentucky to explore the Red River Gorge, which, as a climber, is a huge destination spot. We still worked during the weekdays, but the pro of working from Kentucky was the time change (+2 hours from my office), so we could get early outdoor climbing sessions in and not have to log into work until 11am, which allowed us to feel like we were taking advantage of our time there. I don\u2019t want to accommodate my life to my career. Yes, I will make sacrifices from time to time, but I want to look back on life and know I spent it to the best of my own likings. So long as I do my work, show up and do my best, I can do that from anywhere. A life spent outside brings me so much more fulfillment than any paycheck ever could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Devin A., Denver, Colorado. REI Member since 2011.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reshuffle the hustle in the name of mental health<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s important to exercise when there is sunlight to combat my seasonal depression and get much-needed vitamin D. If you are reliant on weather conditions in your area, I recommend trying to plan your work schedule around that. Find out when you are most productive in your workday and when you feel energy lacking. That\u2019s a good time to play hooky. You may even get more done in less time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Alexa L., global PR director for Xero Shoes<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Remember that the world can wait<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSurfing conditions are unpredictable, especially in the part of California where I live, where the wind plays a huge role. When the waves and conditions are good, I make it a point to get in the water, even if it\u2019s a Monday at 10am. My three boys love surfing too, so it\u2019s especially important for me to make time to surf with them. Surfing reminds me that people can wait a couple of hours to hear back from me, even if they are on a deadline. One practical tip is that I always share my location with my kids, husband and business partners. This way, if they see I\u2019m near the Pacific Ocean, they know it might be a couple of hours before they hear back from me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Coley G., Ventura, California. REI Member since 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Scott Soens<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A deceptively wise young man in Wayfarer shades once reminded us how quickly life goes. \u201cIf you don’t stop and look around once in a while,\u201d Ferris Bueller says, \u201cyou could miss it.\u201d While that teenage hooky-player extraordinaire might not be the best role model, you\u2019ve got to admit: He has a point. If our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30740,"featured_media":196941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[685,242],"tags":[1990,66],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-196927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-social","tag-opt-outside","tag-tips"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/news\/hooky","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"In Praise of Playing Hooky","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/hooky","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/hooky"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/07\/Batz_20240303_0F4A0171.jpeg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/07\/Batz_20240303_0F4A0171.jpeg?fit=2560%2C1708"},"articleSection":"News","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ever Meister"}],"creator":["Ever Meister"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["opt outside","tips"],"dateCreated":"2024-07-23T22:18:41Z","datePublished":"2024-07-23T22:18:41Z","dateModified":"2024-10-16T18:09:31Z"},"rendered":"