Did you party like it was 1999 this weekend, living out Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night” on Friday and the Bay City Rollers “Saturday Night” to follow it up? Well now it’s Sunday and you’re paying for the fun you had. One look in the mirror says things won’t improve much before Monday and you have a big meeting coming up.
Now, the ideal cure for getting rid of a party hangover is to not get one in the first place, but since it’s already too late for that, just remember that tip next time. Now, let’s get you looking your best.
1. Get Moving
You likely don’t feel like getting up to exercise after having too much fun this weekend. You have a headache, your stomach is in knots and you feel exhausted. However, our bodies flush toxins in four ways: through breathing, sweating, or through the liver or kidneys.
Exercise gets you breathing and sweating and moving the bad stuff you took in over the weekend out of your body. Start slow and gentle with a walk, easy run or yoga class and increase the intensity as you feel comfortable.
Getting moving also provides your brain with a rush of endorphins, the hormone that makes you feel better, to help overcome the sluggishness you feel now.
2. Hydrate
While you exercise, you can start the second phase of your weekend remedy — hydration. Alcohol is a diuretic. It pulls water out of your system and makes it difficult to reabsorb liquid back in. The result is not enough water in your system for your body to function normally.
You will need to replace the fluid you lost during your night out to restore balance to your body and help it function better. Choose water, juice, sports drinks and milk for your rehydration plan and avoid caffeine, also a diuretic, which can make matters worse.
3. Eat Healthy
Your body might be craving that double bacon cheeseburger and plenty of home remedies call for loading up on greasy foods. But eating junk food at this stage will only make you feel worse, not better, for Monday morning.
Fat, grease, salt — these lead to bloating, gas and digestion problems. You want to feel and look your best on Monday morning. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable in your clothes or have to excuse yourself to the restroom during your meeting.
Choose healthy alternatives to your favorite greasy foods. Turkey burgers, baked potatoes and fruits packed with antioxidants make for a better choice.
4. Turn in Early
Sleep is the best medicine for what ails you right now. Your body needs time to rest, repair and relax before the demands of the work week begin. Get to bed early to maximize the benefit of this hangover cure.
5. Get a Facial
You’ve worked out and put some fluids back in your body. Now it’s time to take care of your skin. Alcohol works as a vasodilator, causing the blood vessels in your face to widen and bring more blood to your face resulting in redness, puffiness and swelling.
A facial will renew and restore your skin so you look your best. The facial treatment will also leave you skin looking smoother, cleaner and more healthy so people will think you spent the weekend at a spa retreat rather than partying hard.
While of course the best cure for a hangover is to not get one in the first place, sometimes we make decisions that we regret come Monday morning. These five steps can help erase the telltale signs of a rough weekend and get you refreshed for the work week.
Nicole prescribes to the motto “work hard, play hard,” and loves finding anything that will help her be able to do both.
