We have all at some point been in the position where you have been out the night before, drank too much, and have to come into work the next day. The worst situation is when you know some of your work colleagues know you have been out drinking and you have to hide your hangover. Perhaps it was your birthday, or even an office party, but you need to hide the evidence despite a samba band attempting to play tunes in you head. If this is the case for you, here are some top tips to help you cope.
1. Turn up as early as possible
The last thing you want to deal with is starting the day with your boss shouting at you – so avoid being late with a hangover, if possible. It will also put them off the scent of exactly how bad you are feeling and, if you are early, they are likely to put a lot less pressure on you as they will believe you have come in early as you have so much work to do. If you work in an office where there is flexi-time you will be able to leave early too, which is much better than dragging the day out in pain.
2. Raid the kitchen – drink a lot of coffee and eat biscuits and crisps
Caffeine will help speed up your metabolism and help you process the alcohol remaining in your system more quickly. Sugar from the biscuits, will help break down the alcohol residue, and salt from the crisps will replace salt you have lost from dehydration. Obviously hit the water cooler too to deal with the dehydration and relieve the pain in your head.
3. Grab some documents and go for a walk
If you find yourself losing concentration, pick up a few documents and walk around the office (if its a big office) or to and from the photocopier at a brisk pace. Walking about will boost your metabolism more than sitting at the desk. The documents in your hand will make it look like you are doing something important.
4. Find somewhere to have a nap
If you really feel yourself flagging, then every office has a secret place to have a power nap. If you work in a large firm, you may even be able to book a room, lock the door and have a proper sleep, but even in the smallest company, you can always lock yourself in a toilet cubicle and put your head down on your knees for 10 minutes.
5. Keep smiling
Firstly it will mean your colleagues will not be able to guess how bad your feeling, plus it releases endorphins which reduce pain. If you need a little inspiration, just think of your next three valleys ski holiday…
Good luck!