The Monday after the Super Bowl follows a familiar pattern: sluggish employees, a spike in “mysterious illnesses” and a general sense that productivity will not be making an appearance. Now there’s data to back it up. According to a new study, 55% of Americans think today should be a national holiday.
The research found that nearly 60% of people struggle to function after the big game and 41% rank this as one of the worst Mondays of the year. Between the late kickoff, endless commercials and emotionally draining fourth quarters, it’s no surprise that today feels like an uphill battle.
Employers aren’t imagining things—people aren’t exactly operating at peak efficiency. The study found that post-Super Bowl “Monday malaise” leads to sluggish work, lower engagement and in some cases, employees mentally checking out altogether. It’s a phenomenon many have long suspected but now has statistical backing.
The question is what to do about it. Some advocate for turning today into a recognized holiday, ensuring the nation has a built-in recovery day. Others suggest a simpler fix: move the Super Bowl to Saturday. A Saturday game would allow for a full Sunday of rest before the workweek begins, eliminating the need for nationwide damage control.
Whether the solution is a day off or a scheduling shift, the takeaway is clear—the Super Bowl is fun. The day after it is not.
