‘Hump Day’ Hacks for a Midweek Boost

If you get the ‘Wednesday Worries,’ here’s how to make it a better day in your work week

A camel statue on Duke University's campus
If you're having trouble getting over "Hump Day" in your work week, you're not alone. Photo by Julie Schoonmaker, Duke University

In the annals of legendary television commercial, space surely is set aside for one that aired a decade ago and extols the virtues of a single day. In the spot, a joyful camel strolls through a silent office setting, bellowing out a greeting to all his stoic co-workers.

“Uh oh! Guess what day it is?” the camel croons in the Geico commercial. “Guess. What. Day. It. IS???”

“It’s Hump Day,” one dispassionate worker finally replies in monotone.

Few people are as excited about Wednesdays as a camel who thinks the day is nicknamed after him. In fact, Wednesdays are becoming one of the most stressful days of the week. According to the meditation app Balance, more people log on for stress and anxiety relief on Wednesdays than any other day

With the shift to hybrid work schedules, Wednesday has become the most popular day to work in the office. It’s an opportunity to catch up with colleagues who aren’t always onsite, but it can also be one of the busiest days, packed with meetings and impromptu conversations.

Here are some suggestions for how to make Wednesdays work for you.

Connect with colleagues

Jason DeRousie's team in the Sanford School of Public Policy gathers in the office on Wednesdays – and often uses that time as an excuse for team bonding, like this lunch at the Nasher Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of Jason DeRousie

Jason DeRousie is Assistant Dean for Academic Programs & Student Affairs in Sanford School of Public Policy and works with a team of about 15 people – most of whom work from home at least one day a week.

Everyone comes into the office on Wednesday, a specified day to connect with colleagues.

“Wednesday is the day when everybody's there just to sort of have serendipitous times to meet with each other and see each other and just to all be in the office together,” DeRousie said.

That’s the day DeRousie’s department has staff meetings and meets with other Sanford teams and student services staff they often work with– which are also an excuse for bonding activities. They’ve had activities like a team field trip to the Nasher Museum of Art, a cookie potluck and simply going to lunch.

It creates something to look forward to, even when that day can be particularly busy with in-person meetings.

“It's nice to have that time to stop by and talk to everybody, to walk down the hallway and know people are going to be in their offices,” DeRousie said.

Build a better schedule

Teaunna Wilson

Teaunna Wilson learned lessons from the Learning & Organizational Development class “Managing Multiple Priorities” that are applicable for looming deadlines and making any hectic schedule more manageable.

When Wilson started a new position as a Human Resources Specialist, she found herself overwhelmed by tasks and data far too often. In Managing Multiple Priorities, instructor Joy Birmingham urged Wilson to identify her “prime time” – when she is most productive – and protect that time as her own.

Wilson also learned to “brain dump” everything that she needs to accomplish each day, and prioritize time-sensitive tasks.

So, her new schedule includes an early-morning brain dump, and a fierce protection of her “prime time,” which starts around 10 a.m. She sets up her auto-reply email during that time and powers through her to-do list. She also tries to do the “worst first,” another tip she learned about tackling her least-appealing projects first instead of putting them off.

“Little things make a big difference,” Wilson said. “Everything I learned in that class was transferrable – I can easily apply it to my professional life and my personal life.”

Birmingham said that it’s important to plan what tasks can be accomplished in the office when there are distractions, and what needs to be saved for focused alone time at home or elsewhere.

Have something to look forward to

Taking time to view the "Scientist and Nature" statue on Duke's West Campus can be a good Hump Day break. Photo by Julie Schoonmaker, Duke University

One factor to remember, Birmingham stressed, is that “no one really gets more than four to five hours of focused work done in a day.”

Even when you’re not at your computer or checking off tasks, interacting with colleagues is valuable work time. Casual conversations can often spark the most fruitful ideas. Embrace Wednesdays as an opportunity to connect when everyone is together.

“Connecting with others and short meetings on specific projects or topics are vital to your well-being and performance,” Birmingham said.

For some, the pressure to engage with colleagues during the popular in-office day may create stress, too. If that’s the case, break up your midweek routine. Other Duke events specifically on Wednesdays can be added to your anticipatory calendar such as LIVE FOR LIFE’s Mini Mental Makeover, which occurs on the second Wednesday of each month.

And if all else fails, try to capture some of that “Hump Day” camel joy, and remember that getting through Wednesday means you’re one day closer to the weekend.

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs by writing working@duke.edu.

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