Originally appeared on CHW on March 19, 2018.
An entire day devoted to slacking off and getting nothing important done? International Goof Off Day may sound like a waste of time, but that’s the point. In our fast-paced and hectic society, we all need a day to relax, unwind, and ignore our responsibilities.
On Thursday, March 22, 2018, you get a free pass to play hooky. (Unless you celebrated early and took additional time off it will get you in trouble at work or school.)
Although goofing off may seem easy, some of our most celebrated “Goofs” have worked hard to make us laugh. Robin Williams (1951 –2014), Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Colbert, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Kate McKinnon, and Chris Rock are just some comedians who have touched our lives with extravagant silliness, and we love them for it. On International Goof Off Day, we can all strive to be as deliberately carefree as these happy-go-lucky artists seem to be.
So whom can we thank for this jolly holiday? In 1976, 10-year-old Monica Dufour and her grandfather William Chase decided everyone needed a day dedicated to goofing off. A local newspaper heard about the idea and published an article on it.
If you’re stuck with nothing to do on International Goof Off Day, congratulate yourself for a job not done. If you’d like to seize the moment or go where the wind takes you, have a safe trip. If you’re looking for creative ways to goof off, here are eight suggestions:
- Wake up late and don’t make your bed.
- Eat dessert before dinner.
- Watch television in your underwear.
- Have a picnic at a park.
- Fly a kite.
- Visit a museum.
- Take a hike.
- Unplug from your electronic devices and listen to the surrounding sounds.
However, you choose to spend the laziest of days, make sure to have a ton of dippy fun!
