No need to fret... your Christmas parties can really go with a swing

NOW WE are well and truly in the thick of Advent that must mean one thing – Christmas parties. My personal experience is that people fall into two camps, – you either love them or you hate them. I thought that I would share some of my top tips to get you through that party, whether it be an office one or a social one.

Plan – why, you might ask, would you want to look forward and plan something you really don’t want to go to. Well sometimes the actual planning makes you feel better about it. Plan what you are going to wear, make sure that a) it fits and b) it doesn’t need cleaning. If you are planning to buy something do it before the day of the event itself. The whole purpose of this is to make it as easy as possible for you. Also plan how you are going to get there and back and who you are going with.

Be comfortable and confident – when you are thinking about what to wear, have in mind the dress code, but choose something that you feel comfortable and confident in. Remember you want to feel your best on the inside as well as the outside and not be self conscious.

Spoil yourself a bit – think about what makes you feel good. It may be a haircut, a manicure, soaky bath, whatever floats your boat, but either on the day or a short time before, spoil yourself so that you feel good about yourself.

Break the ice – if you don’t know many people at the party, make sure you have an ice breaker opener up your sleeve! Compliments work really well (‘I love your hair!’) and then follow it with asking them about themselves. It’s much easier to encourage people to talk about themselves if you are not that confident, it means you have to talk less and the focus isn’t on you.

Adopt confident behaviour – I don’t mean you have to be really fake, but confident people have certain traits of behaviour that make them appear confident. seem confident to others.

Don’t feel that you have to stay until the bitter end – during your ‘planning stage’ think about when you would like to come home, then you can say your thank-you’s and go.

I hope these tips help your parties go with a swing this year.