Vani was tempted, so tempted. The lure of the sky and the sea was irresistible but the work….. She looked at the ticket, which her friend had thrust, into her hands. Could she do it? Taking a day off from work was something that Vani had never done before. Moreover, she was knee deep in commitments. But the idea of playing hooky stirred a feeling of excitement in her like never before. Stolen hours of doing all her favourite things – walking bare feet in the sand, eating an ice-cream, strolling through the trees with the wind blowing, frolicking in the water – Oh! Sheer bliss, that too on a Tuesday morning!

Feeling like a kid on an adventure, Vani picked up the phone and reported sick, determined to luxuriate in her idleness. She knew that she deserved it. This was her break from routine day.

Like Vani, all of you deserve a break from your hectic schedule, whether from work or homemaking activities. Don’t feel guilty in giving yourself a day off, even if it is from your kids. When you play hooky, the operative word is ‘play’. And no one to is to know about it except maybe a friend who is playing hooky with you.

This week, just for a day, excuse yourself from real life.

Take a serious look at your calendar. How does your week look? Which day could you take off without your world grinding to a halt?

If you feel that this is impossible, remind yourself that no one is indispensable. No, not even you. So, make yourself temporarily unavailable.

This is absolutely necessary for your good health, physical and psychological.

The crucial reason it’s so difficult to be an adult is that there’s no one to write a note for us to excuse us from the job – Marriage, caring for children, caring for parents or cleaning the house. So, write your own letter, give yourself at least eight hours to call your own.

Send your husband off to work, call your office and say you will come in tomorrow, arrange to have your kids picked up from school by a family member or a good friend.

Do whatever seems most frivolous, most self-indulgent. Treat yourself to a facial, or a body massage.

Go to the movies. Do some sight seeing. Go out for lunch. Stay at home watching television sitcoms or read a fabulous novel at one sitting.

Indulge in your love for chocolates or junk food.

When your day is over, you will have the satisfaction of having cared for your soul.

This week, follow British writer Jerome K. Jerome’s advice: “There’s no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do…Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen.”