5 Tips for the St. Patty’s Day Hangover
It’s March 18th, the day AFTER St. Patrick’s Day.
The shamrocks are wilted, the green beer is flat and you have only the faintest memory of performing a jig among strangers in a darkened pub. Now if everyone at the office can just whisper and keep the lights dim until 5 PM…
Most of us have overdone it on a weeknight at one point in time, and the day after is never pretty. While you can’t un-drink that last pint, you can do a few things to reduce your misery and get through the day in a semi-productive fashion.
Dunk Your Face in Ice Water
You’re not fooling anyone with that splotchy face and those puffy eyes. This little trick can help bring down the swelling. Fill a big bowl with water and ice cubes and dunk your face for 10-30 seconds. Do this 3-5 times. You’ll look more human and the cold water will be soothing (in a numbing kind of way) to your aching head.
Ibuprofen Plus H2O
Speaking of your buzzing brain, take some kind of analgesic as soon as you wake up. Better yet, take something before heading to bed if you remember. Bring a refillable water bottle to work with you and keep replenishing it throughout the day. As I am sure you know, alcohol is a diuretic, so you’ll need to rehydrate before you feel better.
Go Bananas (with a Side of Eggs)
Food may seem like the enemy right about now, but the right nutrition can help straighten out your system. Bananas are a great source of potassium, a.k.a. one of the important minerals you lost last night after that second shot of whiskey. And eggs have cysteine, which helps break down the hangover-causing toxin acetaldehyde.
Get Some Exercise – but Not Too Much
Well-intentioned friends may suggest that the best thing to do is “sweat it out,” but if you’re dehydrated and your stomach is already shaky, a morning run can backfire. However, moderate exercise (think lunchtime power walk) can boost your endorphins (natural painkillers) and help pull you out of your slump.
Cup of Joe
Yes, coffee, like alcohol, is a diuretic. But, as long as you’re compensating with enough water, a cup of coffee can help with your headache. Plus, if you’re a regular coffee drinker, the comfort and ritual of coffee will likely help you feel better. Do not discount the placebo effect!
In all honesty, the only real “cure” for a hangover is time, which few ninjas have on a Wednesday morning. So, in the meantime, we hope some of these tactics will help take the edge off. And if your colleagues are still looking a little green (despite removing the St. Patty’s facepaint) start a fresh pot of coffee and forward along this article.
What’s your favorite office-friendly hangover cure?