5 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Without Becoming Totally Useless the Following Day

Culture

I may be half Irish, but I can't stand St. Patrick's Day, which brings pressure to get totally wasted, blow money on beverages that will only make me gain weight and feel sick, and make bad choices.

If you're not careful, you could get yourself into a lot of trouble on St. Patrick's Day, so I've compiled a list of things you can do to avoid feeling terrible and full of regret tomorrow morning at work. 

1. Eat a big, hearty meal before you go out

Drinking on an empty stomach increases your chances of getting a hangover or needing to throw up later on, so eat something hearty beforehand to soak up all the poison.

2. Give yourself some boundaries

I know you probably want to go all out for St. Patrick's Day, but put a cap on the amount of drinks you consume. If you don't want to do that, at least pace yourself.

3. Don't open up a bar tab

Not only could you potentially spend more money than you'd like by leaving your card open, but you could also get carried away and drink too much. By paying with cash, you'll be more aware of how much you're spending and imbibing. 

4. Hydrate

This is probably the most important suggestion on my list. Balance out the amount of alcohol you're drinking with water, which will reduce your chances of getting sick or hungover. Booze dehydrates you and could give you a headache the following day, so make sure you're downing tons of water throughout the night.

5. Just say no

If someone offers you a shot and you'd rather not take it, kindly decline. They'll give you flak, but at least you'll go to bed without feeling like the room is spinning.