Image via Complex Original
Summer Fridays, the reason we all have office jobs in the first place. I mean, sure we could be outside year-round, working with our hands like nature intended, but that just sounds like… a lot. And if we all did that, what would become of our Summer Fridays? Going inside at noon and loving it? Ha! Yeah right.
No, 87 percent* of Americans work in offices just so they can steal a little bit back from the man by ditching out early on Fridays during the summer. It allows us to feel carefree and European for 12 weeks out of the year. Which is nice.
But there are many ways to both enjoy and completely ruin a SF, and I am tired of seeing them go to waste. Which is why I’ve outlined everything** you need to know in order to live summer life to its fullest. The title is a bit of a mouthful, but once you get past that, I think you’ll appreciate the material.
*A completely inaccurate figure I made up.
**It’s actually eight things; there’s probably/definitely more.
Take Some Fullies
A Fullie a.k.a. The Total Package a.k.a. The Game Changer a.k.a. The Whole Day Off. You just gotta do it, at least three times. Maybe four. I mean you owe it to yourself after enduring a winter full of 5 p.m. meetings, crappy free lunches, and passive-aggressive suggestions to work the weekend. Take a few days back for you, for all you’ve given and not received. Upper management does, why not you? Look, if you’re feeling nervous about it, meet ’em in the middle and just “buzz the tower” in the morning. Get in there early, cruise around so the right people see your smiling face, then give ’em the slip. Also, if you never take a full Summer Friday you’re not a true American. Fact.
Just Go
Of course there will be some SFs where “client responsibilities” take precedent, forcing you to tough out the full day like a champ/sucker—and that’s fine. It happens, we’ve all been there. But you can’t let that consistently happen to you. And I say you because only you are capable of shaking off the crippling corporate guilt that keeps those cold and timid souls tied to their desks all summer long. If your company is kind enough to offer Summer Fridays, then part of them actually wants you to go. They want to keep you happy so you don’t quit and get a ton of cash somewhere else. So be a fearless white-collar citizen and take the hell out of those Summer Fridays.
Beach or Bust
If you have a reasonable means of getting to the beach, you must get to the beach on a Summer Friday. Preferably during one of those aforementioned Fullies, but even hit it for the second half of the day if that’s all you can do. Some beach is better than no beach. Just think about all those landlocked Americans sitting by lakes or rivers or aboveground pools. Yikes. Think of them as you make excuses to yourself about why it’ll take too long or that you won’t get any of the “good sun.” You go to the beach because the beach is summer, and summer is everything, and everything is Fridays, and Fridays are today, and today might not be a Friday but whatever—go to the beach immediately.
Never Underestimate a Pool
Maybe I did just throw a bit of a shade at aboveground pools, but they deserve it and I refuse to apologize for it. This post isn’t about AGPs; it’s about IGPs, the only Ps worth talking about. Pools are totally cool, OK—and in some cases even fairly rad given the addition of a diving board or slide. And not only are they a refreshing source of refreshment, they make for a quick solution for cooling off on a hot summer afternoon. Don’t have access to a backyard or hotel pool? Whatever. Hit the public joint. Don’t even start to come at me all high and mighty like you’re too good for public property. I may not know you but I know you. So cool your jets, hot pocket, and get those piggly wigglies wet.
Schedule Meetings Accordingly
This one’s tricky because you might be at that point in your career where other people are scheduling meetings for you. If that’s the case, good for you, but manage accordingly. There will be those die-hards that try to bring you down with their sinking, full-day Friday ship. Misery loves company, especially the misery at your company, so it takes a weekend warrior of strong will and character to persevere over the lames. Your ability to insist on no meetings after noon will most likely end up creating a Summer Friday for some of your more conservative coworkers. You’ll be like the Batman of Summer Fridays. Actually, please use that reference in your argument for early-to-no Friday meetings. You’re welcome.
Immediately Get Into It
I know some of you more responsible types could feel so inclined as to use your extra weekday hours to be productive. Maybe do a little grocery shopping, hit the laundromat, or even have a one-hour conversation with your mother that’s roughly 85/15 listening/words. As much as you may think this is the best use of your time, I assure you it is not. The sense of accomplishment will be fleeting at best, especially once you find out how most of your friends spent their Summer Fridays. Being productive on a Summer Friday is like skipping your own birthday party. You have a free pass to enjoy the hell out of yourself but for some Godforsaken reason you feel that responsibility takes precedent. Well, you’re wrong, and at some point you should just dive right into the party—and that some point is this Friday.
Loyalists Unite
Early on in the summer, it is absolutely essential to identify which of your friends are the SF faithful, and keep them close, for they are the ones that will adventure with you. They are the ones that will plot and plan and escape with you. They are the ones that make every summer all about you. (OK, that last one is a bit of a stretch but you get the point.) Just make sure you keep the list long because while you may not be able to roll deep every Friday, there will be at least a couple of them ready to ride out early and ride out right. Always remember, there’s no “I” in “summer,” but there is one in “Friday.” Think about how little sense that makes when you’re cruising in a rental on your way to lobster roll heaven.
Have the Car Waiting
One of my favorite things about SFs is the ability to take off to a new destination for the weekend. It doesn’t even have to be some amazingly exotic location, just as long as it’s driving distance away from where you live. That in and of itself makes it an adventure. Making those plans ahead of time allows the entire week to fly right by. You’ll be so gassed up to get away for two-and-a-half days that not even daily status meetings with that dude who only talks in weird voices can bring you down. The only thing that can derail your great escape is not being prepared. There aren’t many things worse than being stoked all week, and then once you’ve been released from the corporate clutches you still have two hours of packing to do. Bummer City, USA. So do yourself a favor and spend your Thursday night getting everything in order. Pack your bags. Pack the car. Hell, pack your friends in the car. Do whatever it is you gotta do to hit the ground running Friday afternoon, and the universe will reward you for it.