How To Survive The Office Christmas Party
T’is the season of the office Christmas party!
The office Christmas party can be a wonderful way to get to know your colleagues and celebrate all the hard work that has been done in the past year! Of course, there can be certain things that may be difficult to navigate – but don’t worry! We have a little advice to help you out and make sure you enjoy the party ahead!
Make The Effort and Turn Up!
You might be nervous about showing up. Maybe it’s your first office party, or you had a virtual party last year due to the pandemic, or maybe parties just aren’t your thing. Whatever the reason is, it’s okay to feel nervous about it – but you should definitely try and make the effort to attend!
The party is a fantastic opportunity to get to know your colleagues outside of the work environment and meet other people who you might not normally have the opportunity to work with! Your co-workers will appreciate the effort and will notice if you don’t show up!
Dress Appropriately
You don’t want to be underdressed – or overdressed!
Take the time to get an understanding of the occasion. Is it cocktails at a popular bar? Or is it casual drinks at the pub? Understanding what the event will be will help you plan your attire for the evening.
If you have any doubts – ask your colleagues and see what they’ll be wearing! This is a great way to get a sense of how others will be dressed and will allow you to plan accordingly!
Skip The Work Chat
This one can be pretty difficult to avoid – especially when you are surrounded by people you work with every day.
Give yourself permission to talk about other things and ask your colleagues about themselves! You’ll relax into the setting a lot easier, and you will find yourself enjoying the evening much more! This is especially important when you’re new – this will help you make new work friends and become more comfortable around everyone!
Remember if you’ve been at the company for a while, make sure to include the new people! They’re probably nervous about being around so many new people, and they will definitely appreciate the effort!
Don’t Be Remembered for The Wrong Reasons
It’s Christmas – it’s time to let loose. However, there is a line you don’t want to cross!
Try not to drink too much (stick to your limits!) and keep yourself in check. You don’t want to be waking up and not remembering what you said or did!
Remember you are still in a professional setting. Don’t overshare sensitive information – you never know what people might do with that newfound knowledge!
Put The Phone Away
This might be tricky if you’re the Social Media Manager as you may be taking pictures for content. Remember though – those pictures can wait to be posted! Take the photos and try to enjoy the evening, this way you can go through the photos and select the best ones (that hopefully aren’t too embarrassing!).
Try to keep the phone away – you don’t want to accidentally post something embarrassing after too much booze, and you want to try and stay social!
Have Fun!
The most important thing to remember – have fun! Enjoy yourself with your colleagues and make the most of the night.
Remember to thank your host and the people who organised the event. You don’t want to appear ungrateful!