Hooky Wellness’ Founder on Creating Hooky Day
Interview and article by: Rachael Thomas
Ahead of Hooky Wellness’ third annual Hooky Day on Oct. 19, our founder and CEO Erayna Sargent shares why she started the campaign and gets candid about her own journey to mental wellness.
So, what does it mean exactly to “play hooky?”
Erayna Sargent: To us, playing hooky is about giving yourself permission to do what you need to do versus what you are “supposed” to do. Society has become so focused on grinding that we’ve forgotten the power and importance of slowing down. Hooky Day is a campaign for everyday practice of collective well-being.
A lot of people think about Ferris Bueller and his infamous day off from school. While humorous to many, it puts the concept in a bad light and focuses on being irresponsible. What I’ve found is that the idea of a Hooky Day makes most people smile with feelings of nostalgia and connecting with those they care about, making memories or other joy-filled experiences.
This is what Hooky Day is about — especially in times like this where burnout, stress, and mental health concerns are on the rise. We need the downtime more than ever.
Is there a right or wrong way for people to participate in this skip day?
A Hooky Day is all about using your time to do more of the things that make you feel better. From sleeping in, to exploring the city, connecting with friends or volunteering for a cause you care about – you choose what you want to do. The only wrong way to play hooky is to spend your day working or doing something that drains you instead of giving you energy.
How did your personal experiences shape your vision for Hooky Day? Basically, when did you realize you needed to start this movement?
I started Hooky Day in October 2019 after my therapist put me on timeout. A few years back, I decided to use my Family and Medical Leave Act benefits for a few weeks leave. Though this time was for me to rest and process the life experiences I was having, I continued to fill my time with work. My therapist kindly reminded me that wasn’t what we were here for and put me on timeout to help me decondition from my unhealthy habits. I am forever grateful because this was how I learned the power of slowing down. I started to recognize that peers, co-workers, and friends were all saying the same thing: “I need to take a break but..”, “I’m so tired, but..”, “I wish I could just have a day to myself.”
It wasn’t the lack of need but rather the lack of giving ourselves permission to choose ourselves no matter how others may perceive it.
What advice would you give someone struggling to prioritize making time for themselves?
Hold time on your calendar for yourself. I’ve learned for myself and many others that if it’s not on the calendar then it’s just an idea. Even if you don’t know how you’ll spend your day, just block it and figure out the rest later. This is especially important if you always have something going on. Pick a day a few weeks out and it will be a pleasant surprise to see that you have a day reserved for yourself.
If you have guilt, don’t let it stop you. Instead, acknowledge it exists and recognize that you will be unable to help anyone else if you’re burned out.
What do you hope people take away from celebrating Hooky Day?
I hope that Hooky Day encourages people to reclaim their time. It doesn’t take a ton of planning or a major vacation to make more time for yourself. Also, you don’t have to do it alone. I love getting texts from people hearing how they spent their day and how empowering it feels to reclaim some of their time.
Since starting Hooky Day in 2019, what have you learned about your own relationship to work and rest over this time period?
I’ve learned that there’s still a lot yet for me to learn. Work has always been a big part of my life and identity, so I’ve spent a lot of time unpacking the impact of that. Entrepreneurship is a beast in itself, so building a business all around creating new ways of working while learning myself has presented plenty of challenges. I’m learning a ton about myself, leadership style, and how to work differently.
And how will you be spending your Hooky Day?
This year, I’ll be spending it relaxing. I’m going to sleep in then spend a day at the spa. I hope the day is a little windy because I haven’t flown my kite in a while so that would be the perfect end to my Hooky Day.
There is still time to sign up for Hooky Day 2021!
Sign up, download our free prep guide, and let us know how you’re spending your Hooky Day. Have more questions? Check out our Hooky Day FAQ page.