Super Bowl Monday Blues

The day after the Super Bowl. The day on the calendar that marks the longest amount of time until another football season begins. And for many of us, one of the roughest work days of the year.

It’s one thing to be dragging a bit from a late Sunday night that gave us one of the longest Super Bowl games ever played. But it’s a bit of an insult to mental injury to add in going back to work the next day in a role that you’re not particularly motivated to be in.

For many folks who live for sporting events like the one we witnessed last night, their day-to-day lives are actually quite bereft of sports. That’s not to say there are obviously more important things in life. But I’ve always been intrigued by people who say things like “sports are an escape” for them. Escape from what exactly? We all go through difficult times to be sure. But our jobs take too much time out of our lives for us to dread them each and every day. So if you do, maybe it’s time to think about putting your passion into what you do on a daily basis. 

While working sports is not as glamorous as it may seem, it is much more realistic of an option than most professionals realize. Of course, the irony about this year’s Big Game being the first one ever in Las Vegas basically illustrates the “glamorous” part of working in sports more than ever before. The San Francisco 49ers flew their entire team staff - over 800 people, including interns and family members - to Vegas for an all expenses paid trip to the Super Bowl. Despite the obviously devastating ending to the game, I can only imagine Niners employees and their families will be talking about this trip for a lifetime.

So remember, if you’re struggling at work on this Super Bowl Monday, there is hope. Working in sports is not easy. But if you find the right role with the right organization, it can motivate you and bring you fulfillment in ways very few industries can. 

Maybe it can even cure your Super Bowl Monday Blues.