Did you enjoy a few too many beers, a few shots or too many cocktails last night? Going to work with a hangover will certainly not help you climb the corporate ladder, indeed: it could be difficult to stay in the good graces of the boss if he realizes that your physical presence is ruined by a brain still in the process of expelling alcoholic toxins. Avoid any suspicious and reproachful looks by hiding the hangover in the best possible way.
Steps
Step 1. Wash yourself
If you've gone straight to bed after the party is over, you probably smell like sweat, smoke, and dirt. Wash from head to toe. Better to start the day fresh.
- Keep a bucket next to the shower in case you throw up. There is nothing beautiful about taking a shower with vomit on your feet.
- Remove the stamps they give you at the club entrance from your wrist. If you notice them in the office, it's over.
- Get a beard.
Step 2. Dress well
That is, don't take the first shirt you find and the wrinkled pants. Iron everything carefully. If you don't know how to do it, ask whoever is with you to help you. You have to look perfect to avoid suspicious looks.
Step 3. Brush or comb your hair to fix it
Nothing screams "I just got out of bed and dragged to work" like unkempt hair. You will avoid being scrutinized if you are well combed.
Step 4. Use eye drops for red eyes
In some ways, red or wet eyes are a clear clue. You could fake a hay fever attack, but it doesn't work unless it's spring and someone might offer you a pill remedy. Use eye drops to clean your eyes and avoid uncomfortable questions.
Puffy eyes can be minimized by placing cold cucumber slices or tea bags on them for a few moments
Step 5. Use a concealer for dark circles and bags
The white eyeliner on the lower edge of the eye makes it less "sanguine" and a little blush helps give you that healthy look you obviously wouldn't have.
Step 6. Check your breath
The next morning is usually pestilent. Even if you can't determine if it's heavy, assume it is. Brush your teeth and use a strong mouthwash to rinse them. Chew on some parsley, which is perfect for removing odors from your mouth. During the day, chew on candies or peppermint chewing gum. Spray occasionally with a mouth freshener.
Step 7. If you feel like you might be throwing up, get an Alkaseltzer, or buy Motilium at the pharmacy, both of which fix the stomach
Step 8. If you have any pain, such as a throbbing head, take a couple of pain relievers before going to work and others during the day
A face twisted in pain will attract worried looks that will turn disdainful when you explain that it's just a "hangover."
Step 9. Stay hydrated
Once at work, drink plenty of water throughout the day to help you stay awake and looking less shabby. Or opt for isotonic drinks like Lucozade, Powerade or even Diarolyte. They contain electrolytes that stimulate rehydration faster than water. Alcohol dehydrates, so you need to supplement what you have lost. Also, many fluids give you an excuse to go to the bathroom and to stretch out tired legs.
Initially, take a few sips slowly. If you feel like you're going to throw up, anything you consume could set off the spark. As the day progresses, you will likely be able to drink more and faster
Step 10. Hide and Avoid
If you feel a meltdown in the middle of the morning or afternoon and all you want to do is sleep slumped on the keyboard, find a place to hide from everyone. Move the plant near the entrance to your office and arrange yourself so that you look awake with your back to everyone; put your head in your hands, looking so "very focused" when you are actually sleeping or trying to take a nap. Staying cautious and avoiding being watched is essential. Appearance is everything!
Step 11. Claim you have a migraine
The symptoms - headache, dizziness, nausea - are the same as after a hangover. All you need is certainty that you don't smell like alcohol and that's it.
- Sit on the toilet for a quarter of an hour and close your eyes. It is a peaceful place, the door is locked and no one can hear you sleeping. Yes, it's not the best, but it's a small price to pay for hiding your status.
- Stay away from people if you can - coworkers, boss, customers and those accounting gossips. If you work in accounting, stay away from HR gossip. And so on.
- If you can't avoid a meeting, stare intently at each speaker. Let your mind go as you seem "completely caught". If you can, cancel meetings for the day and postpone them until the next day.
Step 12. Work slowly and methodically
If you try to jump on it like a real maniac to look "busy", you will soon find yourself engulfed and you will make it clear to your colleagues and boss that in reality "you are not in the head". Maybe it's the best day to clean your desk, your files and get rid of the rubbish. Find something more boring and less intellectual to stay productive throughout the day.
Step 13. Don't mention your condition to anyone
Others don't need to know. Of course, you will look a bit scruffy but you can use a lot of excuses, like you slept badly because the scavengers woke you up early, or that you are worried that you are getting the flu.
Step 14. If it all feels very hard once you arrive in the afternoon, suggest that it's time for a drink, to celebrate the good job or your birthday or whatever
As soon as the others have had a couple of rounds, you can retort the comment about your appearance by pointing to theirs.
Step 15. Close the door and act as if you have a conference call
If someone knocks, make a universal sign indicating that you are on a conference call. The nuisance will apologize and walk away, leaving you alone for a while.
Step 16. Take a walk
If you really took it hard, maybe you walked to work because you couldn't find the car. And if you weren't that lucky, take a 15-20 minute walk.
Advice
- Stay away from who would make you worse. When you feel tired and tense you tend to explode in front of those who provoke you.
- Go home early if you can. The less time you spend in the office if you've been drinking the night before, the better chance you have that no one will notice.
- Take a sick day. Nobody will know anything.
- Stay home and work virtually. Tell your boss that you are not feeling well but you can still do something from home. This way you can sleep to work off the hangover and work the rest of the day, without distractions.
- Try to take a nap at lunch if you have to work all day. The empty room, the car, the office where no one is around, the park bench, etc. they are all places to take a nap. This way you will feel fresh and be able to manage the rest of the day.
- The best way to avoid looking like you've been drinking a lot the night before is not to get drunk of course, but you should know that already.
Warnings
- Vomiting in the bathroom at work is an action that feels… anyway. Look for another bathroom away from your office. So someone else will take the blame.
- If you have Facebook and friends posted and tagged photos of you drunk the night before, keep a low profile. Your colleagues may not notice if you're lucky. Don't giggle too much when you check the profile or you'll let them know there's something funny.
