Nursing a hangover on a workday: how to be productive after a night out

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am definitely guilty of nursing a hangover on a workday occasionally. Especially in my early twenties. I spent a lot of nights out with friends, enjoying the freedoms that come with being a young adult.

I’ll admit, it’s not the most responsible thing to do when you are just starting out in the professional world. Or even if you have years of work experience under your belt. But, as I admitted straight off the bat, I am not a stranger to nursing a hangover on a workday.

A Friday night spent out in the city is fun. And dealing with the resulting hangover the next day is tolerable because it’s a weekend. You have zero work commitments, so you can spend the day as a couch potato. Moaning about your bad life choices is optional. But when you open your eyes after a night out and realise it’s a workday… That’s when you really regret your life choices.

However, you can hardly call in sick (cough, cough), because there’s a lot going on at work. So how do you keep nursing a hangover on a workday and still be productive?

How to go about nursing a hangover on a weekday

Let me start off by saying that this article is in no way encouraging you to go wild on a weekday. I’ve learnt my lesson and now limit my nights out to Fridays. That said, we are all human. If for whatever reason, you might find yourself indulging in a drink or two (or three, four, five..). On a weekday. Now, I am hardly going to judge. I’ve definitely been there, done that. Sometimes work just plain sucks. And drowning your sorrows in a drink looks mighty attractive.

There’s no use in regretting your night out. What’s done is done. All that’s left to do is to get your sorry self to work. And try, if possible, to be productive. Let me tell you, being productive when you are nursing a hangover on a workday is the exact opposite of a fun time.

But since you have no choice but to do it, here are some things that might help you out.

Avoid the ‘hair of the dog’

I can hear your protests. “But… but it works!” you might feel compelled to inform me. And yes, it works. For a while. Except not really. Still not convinced that this is not a good option when you are nursing a hangover on a weekday? I don’t blame you.

It’s a fight-fire-with-fire approach. And probably came about in a similar manner. Once upon a time, people thought that if a dog with rabies bit you, the solution is to brew a few hairs from that dog and drink it. Which, unhygienic. Also, you won’t be surprised to learn, is not scientifically proven. Not even a little bit.

Drinking more in the morning after a night out works the same way. Once you sleep it off after a night out, the blood-alcohol level gets closer to zero. That’s when you start to feel hungover. Drinking again will increase your blood-alcohol levels, yes. So you might start feeling more alive, instead of like death warmed over. But it’s just a temporary solution. Once the buzz from the drink wears off, you will still have to deal with the hangover.

Drink plenty of fluids

Just because hair of the dog is out, doesn’t mean all liquids are. In fact, if you are nursing a hangover, on a workday or not, drink plenty of liquids. One byproduct of being hungover is an unquenchable thirst. Your body will be feeling the effects of dehydration. And the best way to counter that is to drink plenty of water.

Energy drinks are also going to be your best friend while you are nursing a hangover on a workday. If you are worried about the high sugar content of flavoured drinking stimulants, you can try organic fruit juices.

Side note, though. Maybe go easy on the caffeine. Coffee can definitely give you that little extra boost. But even on a good day, it can dehydrate your body. So on a day when you are hungover and your body is already experiencing dehydration… If you do need your caffeine fix, try to limit your coffee intake to just one cup. And then guzzle an extra glass of water afterwards.

Pay attention to what you eat

Hungover? Eat the greasiest food you can get your hands on.

Actually, don’t.

Greasy food traditionally goes hand in hand with a hangover. But there are better food options that are more effective and definitely healthier. After a night out, your blood sugar levels might be lower than usual. A serving of carbs is definitely in order to get it up again. Vitamin C also helps to process alcohol in your body. You can simply take some over-the-counter pills to replenish them. But a glass of fruit juice can also get the job done. However, note that acidic contents will merely aggravate your already upset stomach. So if you feel nauseous, maybe avoid the OJ.

Take extra care when you get ready

Try, if possible, to wake up earlier than normal. That way, you have extra time to get your sluggish and hungover body to get up and get ready for work. The additional time will also give you a chance to sober up. Start the day with a long, cold shower and clean up. You will begin to feel more like a human with some TLC. So brush your teeth, and if you have it, use some eye drops. And if you wear contact lenses, leave them at home. Contacts will simply irritate your already dry eyes. So wear glasses to work for the day.

Wear more comfortable clothes

Think comfort when you dress for the day. You certainly don’t have to dress like a slob. But if you are nursing a hangover on a workday, super form-fitting clothes are not a good idea. Why? You might have to deal with the sweats sooner or later. After all, while it’s all fun and games on a night out, the morning after is far from pretty.

Try to choose clothes with a soft, breathable material. There are professional clothing options that fit the bill and offer both comfort and a sense of style.