Labor Day: the glorious celebration of hard work, dedicated to giving you that one day off to relax, kick back, and bask in the joy of not working… unless, of course, you’re one of the lucky souls whose boss decided that the sweet nectar of freedom just isn’t for you this year.
While your friends are out basking in the sun or enjoying a leisurely BBQ, you’re hunched over your desk, staring at a computer screen that seems to be mocking you with every email ping. But don’t worry! Just because you’re stuck working doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to have fun.
Here are five (mostly) sarcastic ways to trick yourself into feeling like you’re not totally missing out on the holiday fun. Spoiler: It won’t work, but at least we’ll have a laugh.
1. Celebrate with a Zoom BBQ (BYO-Sad Sandwich)
Host a virtual BBQ during your lunch break where everyone shows off their hastily made sad desk lunches. Bonus points if you can spot someone trying to grill from their cubicle! Sure, it’s not the same as being outside with actual friends and real food, but it’s kind of like a BBQ… if you squint hard enough.
2. Turn Your Workspace into a Beach Getaway (Without the Sand, Sun, or Joy)
Bring the beach to your desk! Set up a beach towel under your chair, wear a floppy hat, and maybe pop up a tiny fan for that sea breeze effect. Sure, it’s not the shore, but at least your coworkers will be jealous of your commitment to pretending you’re not working today.
3. Host a Desk Chair Parade (Because Who Doesn’t Love a Good Parade?)
Organize a Labor Day parade through the office hallways. Decorate your desk chair with streamers, throw candy at your coworkers (who are also pretending to have fun), and wave at the imaginary crowd. It’s the next best thing to watching the parade from the comfort of your couch.
4. Labor Day Playlist: ‘Workin’ for the Weekend’ on Repeat
Curate a Labor Day playlist that captures the spirit of working on a holiday. Start with hits like “Manic Monday,” “9 to 5,” and of course, “Work Bitch.” Play it on repeat until your soul is sufficiently numb. Bonus: The repetitiveness might just sync up with your repetitive tasks!
5. Recreate the Joy of a Grill Out with Your Office Microwave
Bring in a hot dog and pretend you’re at the cookout you’re missing. Throw it in the microwave, listen to it pop and sizzle, and imagine the aroma of freshly grilled food (just try to ignore the sad beep of the microwave reminding you that nothing is right). Extra points if you garnish with a sad little ketchup packet.
Congratulations! You’ve managed to make it through Labor Day while working and maybe even convinced yourself (and no one else) that you had a little fun along the way. Sure, it wasn’t a pool party or a beach trip, but hey, there’s always next year! Or maybe not.
Here’s to hoping you actually get to celebrate the next holiday outside of the office—because the only thing more ridiculous than working on Labor Day is having to read articles like this one to get through it. Cheers to that, right?
