Joanne Sweeney; Photo by Graham Cullen

It seems members of every generation have busier lives than their parents. Being overworked and overscheduled is the norm for many. The “bucket” list gets longer as our own days get shorter.

So, we ask — what would you do if you had an unexpected day off? The question alone causes one to pause.

“What would I really do?”

It’s easy to say “nothing,” or even something practical like getting the house in order or cleaning out the garage. Yes, these are much needed activities … but really? So we asked some of the hard-working people of Frederick County what they would do if they had a break from their obligations and had a surprise day off.

Here’s what they said.

JOANNE SWEENEY, FREDERICK OB/GYN

Oh, baby! This Frederick obstetrician puts in a bundle of hours every week to help local women prepare for and deliver their bundles of joy.

On a “light week” Joanne Sweeney puts in 60 hours between her practice and duties at the hospital. That workload more than doubles to 132 hours when she includes a weekend on call at Frederick Memorial Hospital. Dinner, when there is time, is typically fast food, she said. When she’s in the office, a 10- to 15-minute lunch break is about all she gets when seeing 35 patients a day.

A Boston native, Sweeney has lived in Maryland for seven years. However, she has not had much time to spend sightseeing in Washington. If she had a day off, she would love to hit the museums -- the Museum of Natural History is her favorite -- and landmarks either by herself or with her new husband.

While in Washington, Sweeney said she would enjoy biking the trails and perhaps stopping for a picnic lunch to enjoy a little alone time.