How to Take an Adult Snow Day… Without Getting in Trouble with the Boss

…I don’t think we know how anymore

The kids in my neighborhood know how and I’ll bet they do in yours too.

But do you  know how?

I’m thinking you’ve forgotten. Everyone else I know has.

Let’s be honest here. Remember when you were a kid? Weren’t snow days the best thing ever?

We’ve lost it though. What is it, a fear of a reprimand from the boss?

With all our connectivity and 24/7 never stop work ethic, we have lost that fine art.

What fine art you ask? What was better than those few days a year when everything completely shut down for a day or two while everyone hunkered down, then dug their way out?

Why did we stop doing that?

Reaching back into my not so fond memories of my former big corporate life (read no life), I remember one huge snowstorm that shut down the entire metro area for several days. My boss and coworkers traded emails. No one was coming in. 

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: The office was not “closed.” It never closes. Everyone must consider their own circumstances and personal safety when deciding to come to work after all. (TRANSLATION: You should drive a big-Ass SUV so you can make it into work the two times a year it snows even if it is at your own peril).

He signed off with a zeal like bosses sign off these days…

“I hope everyone has their laptops. We can get a lot done today.”

We had a one-footer in Washington this past weekend. The forecast said four to six inches. Roads and walkways were still pretty dicey on Monday.

Here’s proof we worry far too much about work concerns, and rarely tend to what matters more. There isn’t a single snowman in my neighborhood of 63 homes. Not one. The snow was perfect.

I know. I didn’t try either. After all, I have a reputation to protect.

My friends, we have to stop this nonsense!

I thought about it all weekend long. I was able to only because the storm hit over the weekend. Dangerous thoughts can happen for me when the conditions are right. And so, I’m sharing with you some practical notes and tips for being snowed in…

3 important steps before it snows…

1. Stock up on all food items. Get plenty of milk and eggs even if you don’t normally have milk and eggs that often. You might want them. And it calms the nerves whenever a dusting of snow is in the futurecast (that’s new terminology… have you noticed that?)
2. What you actually should buy: hot cocoa mix, your favorite “added-ingredient,” pancake mix, (okay… buy the milk), another snow shovel (admit it… the one you have is buried behind too much useless other crap in the garage), dog treats, firewood, bacon, maple syrup (the good kind), wine, what have you. The rest is up to you… I got you started.
3. When you get home, check your garage to see if there’s room for your vehicles (there’s not, oh well). It’s a bitch to get the snow and ice off should you get the urge to venture out to make sure no one has more snow than you do.

After the dumping…

Okay, okay, technology be damned… there’s going to be some work to be done. I wasn’t brave enough to forget the laptop either.

Here are the rules for holding the boss at bay (you won’t find these written down anywhere, I’m taking a huge personal risk sharing them, you know) …

• Check your email early in the day BUT DON’T REPLY to anything. You’re looking for any time bombs. That’s it. Everyone will sleep in a little on a snow day. No need to be a hero and announce your presence. That would only shorten your snow day.

• Let’s say you have ten people in your work group. Shoot for being number four or five to report in. This is not a day for high achievement.

• Only the truly urgent get dealt with today. Why, because that’s what everyone else is secretly doing. Remember that old productivity rule, Delegate-Delay-Delete or Do? So, Do  what you can quickly, and Delegate-Delay-Delete the rest. “Delay” is your best friend today. If you’re lucky, you won’t have any Dos that take a long time.

• Here’s a Jedi level tip… Turn your email chime back on and turn up the volume. Go have fun. When you hear it, don’t react immediately. Soon is soon enough on a snow day. (inspired by the muse .com)

• Remember these commonly accepted excuses during a snow event… “I was helping my elderly neighbor shovel her walk” (you should anyway), my internet connection was slow (heck yeah, everyone else is streaming movies). Later in the day, try “I really need to finish shoveling the drive before it re-freezes so I can get outta here tomorrow.”

• Resist making iron-clad commitments. Save that hero stuff for other days. Today you want to be the hero mom, dad, spouse, friend or neighbor.

• Communicate on and off throughout the day, but not super frequently. The universal snow day little white lie autoresponder “back online shortly” can help calm the highly impatient. When you do reply, strategically mention the things going on your side of the wire to paint the whole picture. Don’t use your at the office thinking. It’s not the same. Learn these lines and use them, “I had to take the dog out” … “We were shoveling out the cars” … “The kids came in soaking wet and freezing” … you get my drift (snow pun). 

• Most of your office mates will start strong and peter out as the day goes on. Get a good base-hit or two that your boss can see and do it earlier in the day (remember, not too early). But get them done and go play. Hey… nobody has everything they need at home. That’s why it’s base hits, not home runs today. The home runs are for you and your family. At home. Today.

Now for the real fun…

• Pick a snowball fight with a neighbor or a family member. You know you want to. Keep it fun. You know how.

• Build a snowman. This is simply mandatory. You have to at least try. Don’t let the good snow melt away by denying it’s chance to come to life.

• Jedi challenge: Call a street party. The deeper the snow, the better the reason to do this! Hot beverages are mandatory, of course! This kind of this does happen… so I’ve been told…

Now go make it a proper snow day…

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And be untucked this week!

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