Christmas is just around the corner so me and Estelle over at Estelleosaurus decided it would be fun to do another collaboration post together! We did one in the summer about rainbow fashion (you can read her post here and my post here) and I LOVED it so damn much! 😀
I’ve spoken about great gift ideas for people who love gin and Estelle (as you’ll have guessed from the title!) is talking about how you can survive your Christmas party.
Right without further ado, I’ll hand it over to Estelle! 😀
For a long time, my only reference for the office Christmas party was what I’d seen on TV or in a film. The party was usually held in a very large office and all the staff partied there. Someone would inevitably photocopy their genitalia. Someone dressed as an elf would cop off with someone in a Santa hat in the stationery cupboard!
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been to an office Christmas party like that. Even if I had, I’m fairly confident I couldn’t get on top of the photocopier to photocopy my bum anyway.
The office Christmas party can be a tricky event to navigate whether it’s held in the office or not, so here are some tips to get you through the festive season!
Planning
These days it is much more likely you and your work colleagues will go out to a pub or restaurant for the Christmas party. If you are really lucky, you will be the chosen organiser (I strongly suggest you try to avoid being the organiser). Your job will be to think of somewhere to go – usually more than one place because people like a choice. You will need to make sure you’ve covered allergies, dietary requirements, vegetarians etc. and then send the menu’s out for everyone to pick where they’d like to go. I cannot stress enough how important it is to do this early. Getting everyone to make a decision as to where they’d like to go is like herding cats. You will have to chase them, repeatedly. Once you have managed to get everyone’s restaurant preference it will be your job to call the venue, check they’ve got a table on your chosen festive night.
You will usually have to pre order and pay a deposit during the Christmas period, so next comes the fun task of collecting the deposit and getting a pre order choice from then. Once you have let the restaurant know the pre -orders you can relax until the big night. Definitely keep a list of what everyone ordered though, because they will forget and insist they ordered something different when the meal arrives in front of them!
What to Wear
It seems to be a given that you should wear something sparkly for the entire Christmas period, which quite frankly is fine with me. But not everyone will feel comfortable, so what should you wear? Honestly? It’s up to you. Where what the hell you want. Obviously check your venue doesn’t have a dress code – you should try not to wear flip flops and a baseball cap if the dress code is smart casual! It is important to be comfortable and if you are already suffering from anxiety, worrying about what to wear or what you are going to look like is the last thing you need.
Christmas jumpers are all over the place at this time of the year and you can pick up some really funky ones very cheaply at places like Primark. If you don’t have the spare cash or don’t want to spend money on something new, pinching a bit of tinsel off the tree and putting it in your hair or wearing it like a scarf can give you an instant Christmas look.
Once you are comfortable and ready to go it’s time to navigate the party itself.
The Big Night
As an anxiety sufferer the actual party can be quite stressful. It’s important to try and relax as much as you can, but give yourself a backup plan. If you need to leave, then do so. If you feel you can’t leave without an excuse then invent a sick friend, relative, dog, cat, goldfish that you need to get home for. Most people understand if and why you need to leave, but you will find one or two occasionally that don’t get it (usually the same people who are offended if you choose not to drink). If you need to go, just go. Your mental health is more important than seeing Angela’s knickers when she falls off her chair during desert.
If you want to have a drink then do so. Personally, I love a cocktail or a glass of prosecco. If you don’t want to drink, then don’t. Don’t feel pressured into drinking or going on to a club or doing anything you don’t want to do.
Try to sit at the other end of the table from Angela too, especially if she wants to talk about work all night!
Try to enjoy yourself, it is Christmas after all and hopefully you’ll be getting some really nice food and company.
The Day After
I don’t like to drink too much when I’m out, especially when I’m with work colleagues. Getting smashed and lairy can be really embarrassing when you have to go back to work on Monday. It’s obviously your choice at the end of the day, but I would advise caution, especially if you don’t want to be the talk of the office for the next year and be reminded of your dancing on the table at every office get together for the rest of eternity.
I like to have a relaxing day the day after any social event, just to calm myself from all the anxieties that lead up to the event, stress can be exhausting and can make you ill, so it’s important to debrief your body afterwards. For me, this involves going over ever single thing I did or said that may have made me look like a fool. I wouldn’t recommend this though!
Final Thoughts from Estellosaurus
This time of year can be tricky for some people for various reasons. Try to be kind (as you should all bloody year actually). If people don’t want to drink, or prefer not to come to the Christmas party then respect that, don’t try to force them to join in.
Enjoy the festive season, rock those antlers, jingle those bells, be merry and bright and if someone suggests you photocopy your fanny, then politely decline!
Thanks Nat for having me! Merry Christmas Everyone!
Aww I love those final thoughts from Estelle so damn much! They’re so important and so many people forget that not everyone wants to drink or even come to the Christmas party!
I LOVED Estelle’s post so much! It’s always good to have a plan when it comes to the Christmas party. 😛 I want to also say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to her for writing this Christmas post for me, she’s such a star and by far one of my favourite blogging girls. 🙂
Have you had your work or friends Christmas party yet? My work one is due in almost a week and I’m so damn excited! 😀
Make sure to let me and Estelle know in the comments your thoughts on Christmas parties.
Until next time all, take care and I hope you’re having a lovely evening.
There Might Be Coffee 