All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy!

Yes, I call them "sanity breaks", they are mostly planned, occasionally impromptu if the "hole" in my schedule presents itself.

I do have a rule that I've completed or scheduled time later that day for my "CEO & COO power hour" of calls, e-mails & personal notes, but occasionally I do carve out personal time blocks. I did it yesterday, I worked 7am-2pm at the office and on appointments. Broke off for a 5 miles hike 2:30-5:00pm with my bride, then got back to the home office and made calls & responded to e-mails until dinner was ready.

Goof off time is crucial to my marriage and my hobbies-like golf. But for example, since my bride is an in-flight team member for Virgin America, I don't see her for 5-10 days a time. So, when she returns home, it's not always a Sunday (my regular without fail day off since 2005). So, I schedule few hour to 1/2 day blocks of "sanity break"-time for lunch & a walk, or a late afternoon movie, or just sleeping in and having a relaxing breakfast together before I go in to the office late.

Goof off days start with honoring the time you block out to goof off; 2 hours, half day or full day off by not being available to clients' phone calls, text & e-mails.

I help this by simply having my assitant answer calls & e-mails, cover for me or if he's off, by leaving a new daily greeting and it says, " I'm in training from 8-12 (or what ever time block I need) and I'll be returning calls after 12:15pm". I also use my auto-responder feature in my e-mail account to echo this. My time off is no ones business, but it helps if your clients think you're not available because you are in training or with other clients showing property, etc.

If I'm taking the latter half of the day off, I may say "I'll prioritize your call in the morning, if it can't wait please call my assistant, or please e-mail me and I'll reply after hours". Then I may check e-mails that evening when my bride is getting ready for bed or when our "goof off time is over". 

One life, you have to make time to enjoy it. Plus there's nothing sweeter than knowing everyone else is grinding away at work and you're taking in a couple miles on the coastline with the love of your life! (sorry, this looks like a blog-post, not an answer )

All the time. It's called having a life.

YOU BET!

Sometimes it is extremely beneficial to re-charge the batteries doing something as far removed from real estate as possible.

My escape is a canoe trip and packed lunch down the Weeki Watchee River.

I lunch on a sand bar watching kids and not so kids jumping from giant Oaks with platforms 60 feet above the surface. That is a FIVE STORY BUILDING! 

Then I imagine the fear these jumpers embraced the very first time they compelled their foot to leave the platform. Talking to strangers seems to pale in comparison.

Just too busy to take a whole day off. i am getting a new listing on the seacoast today so i am swinging by the beach for a couple of hours for some lunch and a walk in the water, 

Yes when on vacation on a far, far away beach.

Jack Lewitz Sure, you need to take a break every once in a while. Have fun at the track.

We try, but invariably, a client will call us.

I do not go to the race track but every day provides an oppportunity for personal enjoyment.

Not a chance.  I do try to take Sunday afternoons off but usually it doesn't work out.

I never plan to spend a day goofing off...not sure I know how to goof off.... not sure I want to learn to goof off.... I do like to go to the casinos and the track.... that's not goofing off...that's a strategy session.... hope you win...

Yes, although I usually end up taking a couple of calls here and there.

Not lately.  Sounds like a plan.

Just this past Sunday  

Very seldom

Yes and tomorrow is IT!

Yes I do plan goof off days!  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Yes, as soon as I get off of AR we are going to Disneyland for the day. Having some fun!

There is always at least some work, it's never a day of 0 work. I do take some day trips and by break is evenings off for the most part.

I enjoy the spontaneity and sometimes they just happen without planning. No bets Jack but wish you luck that you come out ahead, enjoy!

Very rarely do I take a day off.  I need to do it more often.