There’s nothing like a mid-week holiday to disrupt an office’s productivity, and with the 4th of July falling on a Wednesday this year, a common concern is how plans with friends and family will interfere with our work on the 5th of July. While spending the holiday in the sun and staying out late to watch fireworks is sure to make getting out of bed on Thursday morning difficult, there are ways to lessen the impact of your Independence Day celebrations.

As you begrudgingly roll out of bed on the 5th, here are some tips to help you make it through the day without halting the office’s productivity completely.

 

  1. Don’t call in sick. Calling in sick the day after the 4th of July is the oldest trick in the book, and your boss will see right through your fake raspy voice, cough or well-timed food poisoning. Ditch the “I’m too sick to come in” excuse for a scheduled vacation day, work from the home office day or even a half day of work. Plan ahead so that you don’t put your coworkers (who are also recovering from the previous day’s festivities) in the position of having to cover for you.
  2. Keep your schedule light. Knowing that the day after a holiday is a struggle for most, make every effort to avoid scheduling any meetings, presentations or tasks that require you to be fully alert and organized and save them for a time that you will be more rested. After all, yawning throughout a meeting with an important client or being unprepared for a presentation does not send the right message.
  3. Move around. Since napping at your desk is typically frowned upon, you may need to get out of your desk and move around to avoid dozing off in the middle of the workday. Get your blood pumping by focusing on tasks that require you to get out of your desk, even if that means making copies or running work related errands. If you are chained to your desk throughout the day, consider answering calls standing, taking short breaks to get some fresh air or making plans to grab lunch out of the office.
  4. Be aware of your caffeine intake. Though it is tempting to increase your caffeine intake in an attempt to stay awake, alert and productive, too much caffeine (especially if you aren’t a coffee drinker) can have an adverse effect and cause anxiety, headaches, and difficulty focusing. When you feel like you need that extra caffeine fix, grab some fresh air and a glass of ice cold water instead.

 

It is possible to celebrate our country’s independence this 4th of July and still have a productive workday on the 5th! Just remember these quick tips to help get you through this Thursday!