Let’s be honest, most Sundays you wake up feeling as though you have been run over by a truck. Sunday scaries are a real issue, especially when you have to then rally yourself to make it to the library by 1pm to begin your 8-page paper due Monday. Fortunately, there are a few preventative measures that can be taken to relieve some of the pain that hangover survivors regularly experience.
#1 Zantac.
Zantac is an over-the-counter drug that you can find at our local Kinney’s Drugstore that will cure the sour stomach you get the next day from drinking. Alcohol contains a lot of acidity and so does the other non-alcoholic drinks that you are probably mixing with, so Zantac will help relieve some of the side effects that come along with the acidic liquids. It is crucial that you take one Zantac BEFORE you start drinking, or else it will be too late and the Sunday scaries will probably get to you first. If you have an especially rough night, then I would suggest popping a Zantac in the morning when you wake up as well, it can’t hurt.
#2 That little thing called water
Hydration is key and this one is a no-brainer, if you wish to be especially productive the next day it is probably best that you mix in a water somewhere between drinks to avoid the pounding head ache. However, if you somehow forget to do so or just have too much pride to mix in a water, it will also help to hydrate throughout the day before you go out at night. So, in summary, water is good. Hydrate before, during and after if you are determined to avoid a headache in the morning.
#3 PEDIALYTE
If you fail to hydrate before or during the party, then Pedialyte is God’s gift from heaven to you, to say the least. Sometimes you are simply too dehydrated to solely rely on water to bring you back to life, that is when you head to Price Chopper and get yourself a big bottle of Pedialyte to save the day. Pedialyte comes in many flavors, I would suggest choosing the one that reminds you least of the flavored vodka you were throwing back the night before to avoid any PTSD. Personally, I am not a fan of the unflavored Pedialyte, but if you really cannot stomach one of the fruity choices then that is also a reliable option. Although this drink is typically given to infants, it is also very effective on adults and works to quickly replenish fluids, electrolytes and zinc to prevent dehydration.
#4 Sauna
Many students are unaware of the fact that Colgate actually has a sauna in the athletic facilities that is open and available at all times. The sauna will help you sweat out all of the toxins and booze from the night before. Although the act of sitting in the sauna is quite miserable for most people, it will leave you feeling like a new person and is very effective in getting the alcohol out of your system. It is a great way to sober up if you have a late night that happened to carry on into the next morning, and will help you get your productive Sunday going. Just remember to hydrate before, after and during the sauna because you are probably really dehydrated.
#5 Laugh about it.
A large part of Sunday scaries is accepting the ridiculous things that happened the night before. That is why spending the time to recap your night with friends over a breakfast sandwich is crucial. Just remember, college is for the memories and you would not have them without your closest friends by your side to laugh about them.
#6 Sprite?
Believe it or not, Sprite is proven to ease the hangover. Sprite helps you metabolize alcohol better because it has something that makes your body process aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) faster which is a large contributor to your hangover symptoms. It also just looks so refreshing, doesn’t it?
#7 Coffee
Probably already on your list of things to consume in the morning, but if its not, add it. Coffee has caffeine, caffeine is good.
#8 Asparagus
Although Asparagus is probably the opposite of what you want when you wake up with a hangover, it is proven to progress the cells in your body that actually break down the alcohol. Asparagus also has a lot of vitamins, which never hurts.
#9 Ginger
Ginger is a classic stomach-soother and can be consumed in a variety of ways! Throw it on top of some sushi, find it in an herbal tea, or a ginger ale, there really are endless options.
#10 Give up and go home.
If you attempt all of these steps and still do not feel like a real person, go home and go to bed. Sleep deprivation is another LARGE contributor to the Sunday scaries because lets face it; things go pretty late around here. It is probably better to take some melatonin, head to bed early, and wake up early Monday morning to do work because at some point there just is no motivation to be productive.
These 10 ways to make Sunday’s a little less scary are proven to be effective and should be encouraged among students who wake up feeling demotivated and hungover. Good luck, and at the end of the day, it’s all going to be okay.