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Listen I know you’re upset. Despite the fact that there are still three days until Christmas, the only thing I can think about right now is the day following Christmas when I have to physically be in the office. Some years just the thought of being at work immediately following the best day of the year would be too much for me to handle. Not this year, though.
For whatever reason – be it that you’re low man on the totem pole at a new company or maybe your boss just has it out for you – you’ve been asked to work the day after Christmas. It sucks when you start to think about your friends still cuddled up under blankets at their parents house, not a care in the world while you rot at your cubicle despite the fact that no real work gets done on this day.
But if all of us day-after-Christmas-workers band together in a unified front, we’ll get through this. It’s only one day after all, and it’s arguably the easiest work day of the year.
I hate to have to tell you this, but the only way to get through work on the day after Christmas is to embrace it. You don’t have to enthusiastically walk into the office, but you can’t be sulking either. Make mincemeat out of this workday, much like Mel Gibson did to British redcoats in The Patriot. You just have to power through and realize that this is not the end of the world. That’s my plan.
And if you’ve got a job like mine that requires you at the office, follow along with this easyguide. It’s fool proof and the day will be over before you know it. Here, in no particular order, is exactly what you’ll need to get through this unscathed.
T-shirt and a pair of jeans
This is not a normal day of work. Dress code does not apply when half of the office isn’t present. Throw your most relaxed pair of Levi’s on and a t-shirt from your alma mater and call it a day. The fact that you’re there is enough – no need to wear your standard office fit during a day where no work is going to get done.
Find a nice two and half to three hour long movie
Avatar, Benjamin Button, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Master and Commander – these are just a few of the flicks that come to mind. Settle in with a cup of coffee and your feet up on the desk. Hell, maybe go no headphones. Fire up a beloved movie with an obnoxiously long runtime and enjoy yourself.
Order In
Pizza, Chinese, perhaps a Chili’s takeout order delivered courtesy of Postmates or some other reputable service. Money should not factor into your decision for what kind of food to order. The world is your oyster today, which means splurging on hot wings or breadsticks to go along with the pizza entree. A 2-liter of Coca Cola classic would be nice, too. Just a suggestion.
Reserve a conference room
There’s a conference room in every office that is coveted by all employees. It feels like it’s reserved at all hours of the day and you end up having to settle for the smaller, less spectacular room with a flat screen tv straight out of that episode of The Office. You know which one I’m talking about. Not today. Today the entire office is your personal playpark. Post up in that one conference room that you never get to use. Build a makeshift basketball hoop from a garbage can and start drilling shots from deep. Or just work from you bosses office if the door is open. Either one works.
Bring a couple nips with you
You’re more than likely going to be alone in the office. Maybe two or three others will be there. What’s the harm in bringing a little leftover Christmas cheer with you? A nip of Jameson or Bailey’s to pour into your Keurig Green Mountain coffee isn’t going to hurt anyone, and it’s always nice to have an adult beverage when you’re about to watch a long ass movie.
Bring A Positive Attitude
I said it once and I’m going to say it again because I need to drive the point home here. You’ve got to accept the fact that you’re going into work. It’s the last place on Earth you want to be right now – I get that. But it’s going to suck way less if you just realize that it is what it is. You’re not actually going to have to do anything. Just keep that Lync button on green for a majority of the day and send out a few e-mails periodically. We can do this..
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jduda@grandex.co
Literally the easiest day of the year to work.
I’m really looking forward to booting up my laptop around 9:30 and jiggling the mouse for six hours while stuffing my face with holiday leftovers.
As someone who has to go into the office on both Christmas eve and the day after Christmas, I fully plan to execute this strategy.
Godspeed Duda and my fellow workers. Sometimes I enjoy a day like this – tricks your mind into thinking you were productive while still gorging on all the things you’d be doing on your couch (food, internet, daytime booze)
Don’t forget that NBC will be streaming four Premiere League games back to back that day, if that’s your thing. Grab your folks’ cable login on your way out the door and you’re good to go.
You’re in The Office? Which one are you? Dwight Junior?
I take a vacation day every Dec. 26th and I have no regrets about it. However, this year I’m feeling ambitious and did not take the day. It will ultimately be a game time decision, which will solely be dictated if I cut myself off at a reasonable hour the night before.
Ps. Big Notre Dame guy. Terrified for Saturday.