'Don't talk to me before 11 AM': 20 Work memes to reward hardworking workers with a chuckle

Jesse Kessenheimer • Memes this, memes that.

May 30, 2026 8:30 AM EDT

Before I've had my morning coffee, don't expect a reply to any work-related inquiries.

Employment has a funny way of exposing people's innate weaknesses. Whether you're a secretly insecure CEO, a micromanager who never takes their 10, or an overworked nightshift worker, we all experience our lowest lows in the workplace. However, at the same time, despite its dismal nature, the workplace is also a strangely comforting place, where your favorite coworkers commiserate, your recurring clients are reliable, and your paycheck comes through every month.

Work doesn't have to be all bad.

Perhaps the shining moments in the workplace have nothing to do with bosses, spreadsheets, deadlines, pitches, speeches, or meetings that could have been an email; in all honesty, it's much simpler than that. It's the people we work with who make the job worth it. It's the projects that inspire creativity or excitement. It's the well-earned pride that lies behind a completed mission.

Those smaller victories are harder to spot before 8:30 AM on your morning commute, but if you take a second to revel in the glories of your job, your career, or your day-to-day happenstance, the shimmering sparkle tends to shine through the mucky parts. Forget the enraged Karen customers, forget the fast-approaching deadline, and forget the hot n' wet feeling of your boss breathing down your neck.

Take a breath, relax that nagging tension in your jaw, and seize the good vibes in the workplace today. If that starts with a 10-minute scroll of some silly memes over your morning coffee, so be it.

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The Friday feeling is strong today, except the problem is, it's Monday.
Alas, when the week starts off with little to no motivation, sometimes it's hard to buck up and get your day started on the right foot. Oftentimes, it's that first sip of coffee that gets the engines running, so if that sets back a meeting or two to go get some good brew, perhaps that's a worthy endeavor. Coming from a careerwoman of sorts, I'd say that your Monday morning coffee is the best investment you are going to make all week. And that's the truth (or at least, it's my personal truth).
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