Try to drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have throughout the night. Drink water before going to bed and keep a glass within reach in case you wake up thirsty. Start drinking plenty of water as soon as you wake up the next morning and continue throughout the day to keep your hangover at bay. If you can’t get yourself to drink that much water, try a flavored water, mineral water, electrolyte drink, or coconut water. Avoid drinks with a lot of added sugar and caffeine.
Set your alarm for the time you actually need to get up instead of setting it earlier and hitting snooze. Waking up and then going back to sleep for a few minutes disrupts your sleep cycle and will leave you feeling more tired. If going in to work a little late is an option, you may want to consider getting some extra sleep so you will be more productive when you are there. The quality of your sleep might not be great after a night of drinking, but don’t take any sleeping aids unless you have a full night to devote to sleep. You can improve your chances of having a decent rest by sleeping in a dim room. Light can worsen the tension in your head and neck. If you get the opportunity to take a nap during the day, go for it. You can go to bed a little early the night after your late night out, but try to avoid going to bed so early that you will not be able to sleep through the night.
Resist the urge to skip breakfast. If you can’t eat much, have a small breakfast and multiple small snacks throughout the day. Try to avoid junk food. Instead, fill yourself up with healthy foods like lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, which will provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs. Overeating at lunchtime can leave you feeling more tired, so watch your portions.
Don’t overdo it with caffeinated beverages, as they can dehydrate you, which will make your hangover symptoms worse. Remember to keep drinking plenty of water. [4] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Try to avoid caffeinated beverage with lots of added sugar. Stop drinking caffeine by 3 p. m. to avoid disturbing your sleep cycle.
If possible, get some exercise in before work, whether it’s a jog or just a slow walk. Try taking a break from work to go on a quick walk if you’re starting to feel really tired.
Be sure to read the label and only take the recommended dose, no matter how bad your headache is. Medicines that contain acetaminophen can be damaging to your liver when combined with alcohol, so choose another pain relieving agent, such as ibuprofen. [6] X Research source If you decide to take medication for a stomach ache as well, carefully read the warning labels to make sure that the two medications will not interact. Some medications for nausea may also contain pain relieving ingredients, so you may not want to take additional pain relieving medications as well.
Take some extra time brushing your teeth to make absolutely sure that you don’t smell like alcohol. Mouthwash may help too. Wash your face before you go to bed as well to clear your pores and prevent breakouts.
An eye cream may help decrease puffiness as well. If you can, try applying some before you go to bed and reapplying in the morning.
Use concealer to hide dark circles around your eyes. Alcohol can dehydrate your skin, so use products that moisturize, like tinted lotions and cream blushes. Avoid powders and products with a matte finish. If you don’t normally wear makeup, make sure to at least moisturize your face.
You might want to bring the bottle to work with you in case your eyes start looking red again. Make sure to always follow the directions on the bottle.
Don’t take any risks with your outfit. Today is not the day to draw attention to yourself with a loud outfit. Wear something you have worn before so you know it will look good. Make sure to check yourself in the mirror before you leave to make sure that nothing is inside out, wrinkled, unbuttoned, or otherwise unprofessional looking. Style your hair conservatively as well. Try a low bun or a french twist for long hair.
If you’re going to be late, call or email your boss ahead of time.
If an important task can wait until the next day, you might want to put it off so you can take care of it when you are feeling more alert.
Take advantage of this opportunity to do things you have been putting off, like cleaning out your inbox or organizing your files. You probably won’t be able to stay focused on any one task for more than a few minutes at a time, so choose things that won’t take long.
If you do need to talk to your boss, keep your interactions brief. If you can reschedule meetings, it may be best to do so. If rescheduling will cause suspicion, power through them, making sure that you take good notes and are extra personable.
Keeping yourself busy will make the day feel shorter, while watching the clock will make it feel longer, so do your best to actually focus on your work. Even if you’re not functioning well enough to do anything important, try to make yourself look busy. Get up from your desk if you’re feeling like you’re about to fall asleep. Even a short walk to the bathroom or the water cooler can help wake you up. Don’t make any mention of your night out. If someone asks you why you look so terrible, say you have a migraine or a cold.
