Yet another episode of “It’s Hell Being an Ethicist…
It’s a snow day in the D.C. area. Most stores are closed, and most workers are taking the day off. For families with young kids it’s unavoidable: schools around here close with even a prediction of snow. For someone born and bred in New England, this phobia over the white stuff seems especially ludicrous; there are maybe five inches on the ground right now, and in Boston, that would not even slow traffic down, much less close schools. It took at least a two or three feet of snow to close the schools when I was a nubbin.
Still, the old memories are bright. A snow day was always marked by a nice fire in the fireplace, hot cocoa, playing board games with my sister and, of course, dressing warm and going sledding. Today is a snow day. But I have a home office and no excuse not to work—even though I worked all weekend, even though everything in my mind and body is saying, “Take it easy! This is one of life’s special joys! It’s a respite from responsibility! Give yourself a break—heck, everybody else is doing it!“
Ah, but that last part, the Golden Rationalization, is like a splash ice water in the puss. I see the chart of “The Six Pillars of Character” on the wall, and “diligence” is staring at me. So is “responsibility,” and “prudence.” I’m behind in so many things, and there is so much I need to finish, then more still after I finish that. Snow days are about being carefree and having fun. I can’t remember the last time I had fun.
I want a snow day; I deserve a snow day. A snow day would be good for me.
But I’m an ethicist, and I have to be consistent: “Integrity ” is staring at me now. I have to work. No snow day for me.
Fuck.
Ethics Alarms 
Snow days are good for the human mind and body. Everyone needs a break from routine, from work, from school, from taxing the mind. Even God took a day off.
I think you can, too.
And everyone said…?
Amen!
In the realm of working smarter, not harder, it can be prudent to take some time off for relaxation. Deadlines are deadlines, of course, but if there is some leeway, it can actually boost productivity by taking a break. Get up and walk around for 5 minutes once an hour. Take a nap at lunch time. Make sure you get the 6-8 hours of sleep your body actually needs. Remember the Sabbath, because even if you don’t spend the day in worship, one day off in every seven is important for recharging the body, mind, etc.
From my standpoint, I find it easier to shake off the post-lunch doldrums by taking a 15-minute nap, rather than spend 90 to 120 minutes fighting the head-bob.
Is there someone nearby you can entice into a nice afternoon board game? If you can, I’d encourage you to do so.
Perseverance and diligence is what professionalism is all about. However, accepting far too many responsibilities is a recipe for failure. One’s best work is more often than not done when the mind is rested. Even the Cy Young winners work best when given adequate rest.
Too much snow shoveling caused me to misspell my name.
Fixed it!
The seventh of Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits” is “Sharpen the Saw,” which describes a Snow Day to a tee. We all need this, either with or without snow. I can count on my fingers the actual snow days of my youth; we just seldom get substantial snow.
As you undoubtedly hold the highest position in your business, you should establish mandatory snowdays policy and then be obligated to comply with company policy as a contribution to participate in community joy.
Though, even if it is your sole solitudinous joy with Spuds and a cup of hot cocoa sitting on your front porch watching the snow fall, is this not the happiness which we pursue?
The National Zoo’s Pandas are LUVin’ their SNOW DAY!
PWS
The dean of my law school, a Winston & Strawn alum/former tax partner, informed our entire class in our first-semester legal ethics class that “successful lawyers take vacations.”
One pillar is care. I assume self care is part of that. When you grieve, it causes stress and it’s important to renew your spirit. Take an hour gaze out, drink hot chocolate and enjoy the moment. If you keep going, your body will enforce time off by getting sick and you’ll have no choice. Been there, done that. I do not recommend ignoring those signals.