8 Days to Take Off Work

By: Steven Stiefel, Mens Health Magazine

1. The Day After Your Boss' Day Off
He'll come back with a pile of work he doesn't want to do, and he'll unload it on you--unless you're out of the office. Let some other sucker do his dirty work.

2. Groundhog Day
Prep for taxes on February 2. (Your documents should have arrived.) Investment-wise, compile all your stock trades, remembering to carry forward losses from the previous year, up to the limit. And hey, if you pull a Bill Murray and repeat this every year, Uncle Sam won't be investing your refund.

3. Your Wedding Anniversary
Tired of rushing around on your lunch hour to pick up some flowers and a bauble? Take the whole day off and nail the details: gifts, card, sitter, dinner reservation, and a special bottle of champagne.

4. Opening Day of the Movie You're Anticipating Most
Relive your previous life as a Star Wars nerd. Rise early and go to the first showing. If it lives up to the hype, watch it again.

5. Your Kid's Birthday
Tell your child that turning 6 or 8 is a real mile-stone and that you want to spend the day with him or her. Plan an event that you know will go over big.

6. Car-Buying Day
Decide which car you want and get quotes from a couple of dealers. Then take a day off on a slower sales day (we like Tuesdays) to hit up the dealers early. Better yet, go between Christmas and New Year's--it's the end of the month and the end of the year, the best of both worlds for securing the best price.

7. When You Oversleep
Forget to set your alarm or slept through it? Either way, you're probably tired and overstressed, so call in sick and chill for the rest of the day. Do some light exercise--go for a hike, take a spin on your bike--and then have a massage.
(Unofortunately I might've done this a few times too many already...)

8. Day 2 of March Madness
You spend all of opening day sitting at work, refreshing Yahoo! for up-to-the-minute scores. Why not stay home and enjoy all 16 games played on the second day? Request a vacation day in advance. The boss will suspect what you're up to, but at least there's plausible deniability in saying you asked for the time off last month.
(Sweet! I might just do that this year)