After Work Happy Hours: Friend or Foe?

We’ve all been there. 5 pm on a Thursday night. Your co-workers are going to a sports bar down the street for an adult beverage or two. You’ve got a few hours to kill, but you also want to make sure that you don’t wake up at 6:30 am with a pounding head and a queasy stomach the next day.

Here are my tips to avoid being the topic of conversation at the water cooler on Monday morning (trust me on these, my friends and I have had some practice)!

Drink responsibly: Sure, we have all seen the labels on our beer bottles as we drink them down, but how many of us stop to really pay attention? Keep track of the number of drinks you have consumed and know your limit.

Set a curfew: No one wants to feel like they are back in high school, but by allowing yourself an hour or two to mingle with your co-workers still gives you plenty of time to fulfill your home duties. Plan to be home by a certain time and stick to it.

Keep your hands to yourself: There is no other surefire way to be the gossip topic of the week than to make bad decisions with the co-worker you’ve been eyeing for years. Keep it polite, keep it friendly, but remember that if it ends badly, you have to see each other everyday at work! One fun night isn’t worth years of damage to your career.

What are some rules that you follow while out with the work crowd? Tell me your tips for success, or share your worst “lampshade on head” moment!