What’s the Connection Between the Camel and the Hump Day?

In the 1950s, the concept of the midweek hump became associated with camels (1). It symbolized the struggle of tired employees pushing through the workweek “hump” before they could finally reach the weekend for some much-needed relief.

Aside from the obvious humps on its back that look like hills, the camel’s biological makeup makes it a fair representation of how we gather inner resources to overcome a midweek crisis. The camel commonly lives in the desert, where resources are scarce. The camel hump can store fat and use it as a source of food when necessary (2). 

Five Tips to Help You Survive the Hump Day

Give yourself a fighting chance during midweek madness. Here’s how you can let the hump day fever pass smoothly.

1. Keep your eyes on the prize. You can view Wednesdays either as the glass being half-empty or half-full. With two days left before the weekend, it can be helpful to choose the latter.
2. Review your to-dos. Use Wednesdays to frame your week. Celebrate your wins from the past two days — no matter how small they seem. Then, jot down the rest of the things you need to conquer this week.
3. Take a breather. Don’t feel guilty for taking a midweek break to recharge. The American Psychological Association claims that this necessary time off helps you avoid the negative effects of chronic stress and burnout (3). 
4. Know that you aren't alone. If your Wednesdays feel overwhelming, remember that many of us feel the same. 
5. Accept things, but know that you can do something about them. A 2021 paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health says that stressful work environments can often trigger anxious reactions (4). Take Wednesday as an opportunity to shake things up and remind yourself you’re still in the driver’s seat. 

References

1. “Happy Hump Day.” Dictionary, April 5, 2018. | https://dictionary.com/e/slang/happy-hump-day/
2. Nora Gonzalez. “Do Camels Store Water in Their Humps?” Britannica. | https://www.britannica.com/story/do-camels-store-water-in-their-humps 
3. American Psychologically Association. “Coping with stress at work.” Apa, July 1, 2014. | https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress
4. Jenna Gordreau. “12 Ways To Eliminate Stress At Work.” Forbes, May 20, 2013. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2013/03/20/12-ways-to-eliminate-stress-at-work/
5. Panagiota Koutsimani, Anthony Montgomery, Efharis Panagopoulou, and Katerina Georganta. “Burnout and Cognitive Performance.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, February 22, 2021. | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33671754/