National Leave Work Early Day is TODAY, June 2

There’s a whole wide world out there

We work because we have to, we work because we look to contribute and develop our lives professionally. Sometimes, we even do it because we enjoy the professional comradeship. But when it comes down to it, everybody’s working for the weekend. This is a scientific fact, proven via the much-esteemed, in-depth studies of one Dr. Loverboy.

But finding that work-life balance can be tough. There’s always more to be done, and the comforts of home and family tend to be pushed further away with each new task that crosses your desk. That’s why doctors everywhere (including the good Dr. Loverboy) have endorsed National Leave Work Early Day. That day is TODAY, June 2, 2009.

Find an excuse, do what you must

Everyone must attend. This is a holiday of monumental significance to the nation’s mental health, and who can deny it? The recession has everyone putting in the OT for their rainy day funds (or simply to make ends meet). Payday lenders and their fast payday loans are there to help cover the gaps, but sometimes even that isn’t enough. Flee the general area of work, because the financial problems will be there either way; you’ll solve them eventually. And when you do go, don’t use you computer or smartphone to stay connected. E-mail, IM and VPNs are verboten. Personal time, family time, exercise time, hobby time or just good old-fashioned goofing off time are doctor’s orders.

You might wonder who came up with this brilliant idea. National Leave Work Early Day was created by author and productivity expert Laura Stack. It original intention wasn’t so much to just slack off, but to actually take productive advantage of non-work time. Speaking of taking back time, there’s even a group called Take Back Your Time. They conducted a survey of  the American workforce in 2008, and here’s what they found. Prepare yourself, because the results are quite tragic. More than one in four American workers (26 percent) took no vacation at all. Another survey found that 60 percent don’t even plan to take time off work over the next six months. Of course, considering the state of our finances, many couldn’t afford a vacation if they took one. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "National Leave Work Early Day is TODAY, June 2"