I believe it’s time to officially declare the Monday after the Super Bowl a day off from work. Too many of us are exhausted from partying and hoarse from shouting at the TV. Opponents say it’s nuts; that it encourages more laziness and a Pandora’s box over more national holidays whether it’s the World Cup or Election Day. But I believe it’s such an unproductive day that we’re better off staying home – or at our buddy’s place – to sleep, and then afterward, clean up after ourselves.  

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most popular and busiest days of the year, especially in terms of food and alcohol consumption. Many Americans already treat Super Bowl Sunday as a holiday since they start planning for this event well ahead of the big game. For example, last year my friends and I started planning a Super Bowl watch party about a month ahead of the game. We huddled to decide the details based on who had the biggest TV, the most comfortable couches, and a grill that was in tip-top shape. You would think that instead of a sporting event that would last only a few hours—including commercials plus the halftime show—that we were instead preparing to wine and dine deep-pocketed clients we desperately wanted to poach from our rivals. As Super Bowl Sunday approached, we tackled chores like getting all of our delectables, then counting down to Game Day.  

The Super Bowl is the most watched television event in America, with millions tuning in from England, Germany, and other foreign countries, according to Bradley Geiser from SportsCasting.com. The starting ticket price for a Super Bowl is always around $5,000–for standing room only, according to NBC Sports. So, to say the Super Bowl is a big deal is an understatement. Personally, I believe that the day after the Super Bowl should be a holiday for several reasons. First, the Super Bowl starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Eastern time zone and usually does not end until around 11:30 p.m. The Super Bowl is also when major corporations run their most elaborate and expensive advertisements for the entire year. 

All the ads stretch the event—and that’s not counting possible overtime —so a lot of people stay up late. Many people drink quite a bit. Hangovers are common. Alcohol consumption is a good reason why the day after the Super Bowl is plagued by staff shortages nationwide. According to Business News Daily, about 16.1 million Americans will skip work the next day. Moreover, 8 million Americans—including me–will request that day off in advance. After last year’s Super Bowl—The Bengals lost, or can you even remember the score?–there was $4 billion lost in productivity because people either called in or skipped work the next day.  

Lastly, another great reason is for the children of America who stay up late to watch the whole game. Growing up, Super Bowl Sunday was the only exception for me to stay up after my bedtime. And, like most kids, I was cranky and tired all day at school following the Super Bowl. We all know that a growing kid needs their sleep, but I’ve known plenty of parents who make an exception for this night. The Super Bowl halftime show is always headlined by a big pop star and many children are fans of the stars featured. They will stay up to watch them perform. Besides, consider the victory parade that occurs after every Super Bowl. Some school districts cancel K-12 classes because buses and cars can’t get around the parade route easily.  

Now, I don’t expect the day after Super Bowl Sunday to become a national holiday anytime soon, but here is a strong, valid argument.  

I hope that someday, Americans can come together and celebrate one of our national pastimes without worrying about anything important the next day.