I wanted to save this post for a Friday, instead of my usual posting day of Wednesday, because I figured this information might be more useful before a weekend considering the lives most of my readers will lead.
So you’ve had a bit of a long night. The drink has been steadily flowing, you’ve had a lot of fun and you’re heading home after a great night out. You suddenly remember that you have an event to go to tomorrow and, feeling your inebriation slip into hangover, you realise you can’t afford to be feeling rough. Whether you need to look presentable or just can’t afford to look like you’ve recently been dragged through the set of The Walking Dead, this guide will help you take some pre-emptive actions to reduce the impact of your hangover and keep you looking as fresh as possible for the next day.
1. Drink Peppermint Tea
When you arrive back at your house/flat, be sure to get the kettle on and make a cup of peppermint tea. There are a few key reasons for choosing this over other teas and, on a personal note, this has saved me from a morning of sickness and pain the following day.
- Improves digestion and reduces stomach inflammation – Considering the fact you’ve been drinking fermented sugar which is also probably carbonated, this will help keep heartburn and indigestion at bay. It will also reduce the feeling of nausea next morning.
- Relaxes the body and mind – Everyone knows that drunk sleep is not great quality, but the tea should help your mind calm down before bed and relax muscles thereby giving you a better quality of rest than before.
- Helps prevent bad breath – Post drinking morning breath can be horrific. Put simply, this will reduce the symptom and mean you aren’t nauseated by your own exhaling next morning.
I usually find a cup of this once I get in makes a huge difference on how I feel the next day and gives me time to calm down after a night out as I drink it
2. Minimum of 2 x Large Glasses of Water
People always talk about drinking water, but one of the main reasons for doing so is that it helps rehydrate your body. Alcohol actively prevents the production of anti-diuretic hormones within the body which are used to help reabsorb water, this ultimately results in your body being dehydrated (a cause for issues like headaches, shakes, tiredness and dry skin).
With this in mind, make sure to get two large glasses (pints preferably) of water (no cordial added) into your body before you sleep. Again, this will save you a lot of pain next morning and reduce any painful symptoms you may face.
3. Prep Your Skin
Sad moment of truth: alcohol is bad for your skin, particularly when consumer in large amounts. Prepping your skin the night before will help it recover while you rest and ensure it isn’t dried out or damaged when you wake up. It also helps to keep you from looking tired and hungover on the following morning so it’s well worth the time taken to protect it.
Fortunately, there are products available to specifically care for your skin while you sleep. My preferred choices are from Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery collection, so called because they work through the night as you rest. For my eyes, I use their eye cream treatment which requires only a small amount to help reduce puffiness and bags under the eyes which will keep you looking energetic the next day.
For facial skin I tend to prefer use the Midnight Recovery concentrate. Even though it feels lighter than the creams Kiehl’s use, it is considerably more potent and works well and keeping skin nourished and hydrated. Applied just before bed with the eye cream, it gives skin a natural glow and reduces any puffiness around the cheeks/jaw.
4. Try To Stay Awake for a Little Longer
I know, it’s not an easy option. Crashing onto your bed and just dozing off into a boozy sleep is pretty easy. However, doing so could do you a lot more harm than good.
Whilst your body is awake, it can more easily process alcohol and ensure as much of it is gone from your system as possible. However, once you fall asleep your body becomes far less efficient at processing the alcohol which is why next morning you feel nauseous. Although it is difficult to resist the urge to lie down and sleep, you’re much better off trying to stay awake a little longer and let your body get as much of the alcohol processed.
Thanks for checking out the post and keep an eye out for Part 2 where I’ll be discussing what to do the day after your night out.
You can also sign-up to be notified of new posts and follow The Male Stylist activity. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter or Instagram for style inspiration, gentleman’s musings and general fun.
