And so dear Foxy fans, with just TWENTY-THREE sleeps until the Big Day, the festive party season is looming larger than my not inconsiderable derrière and we all know how dangerous that can be for the future of anyone’s career.
Luckily, help is at hand from little ol’ me, with my own top tips of what you should and shouldn’t be doing in order to handle the annual do like a pro.
Foxy top tip 1: Attendance is key. Although going to your staff Christmas party is optional, it’s a good idea to show your face. Even if drunken work colleagues, loud music and secret Santa’s aren’t your thing, it’s important to look like you care about your work life. And, sometimes, all it takes is a night out for your work friends to become your real friends.
Foxy top tip 2: Stuff your face before you go. If you know the party is going to consist of gallons of cocktails but only a few measly canapes, make sure you eat before you go – the bigger the better – maybe pasta or pizza or both to soak up the booze.
Foxy top tip 3: Network like your life depends on it. Christmas parties are actually a great way to mingle with people in your office who you wouldn’t usually talk to. Use it to make a good impression on your colleagues and you never know, it may even get noticed by the bosses.
Foxy top tip 4: Try to avoid shagging a colleague. After a few glasses of prosecco, you may find it ever so tempting to get your hands all over another colleague – but be cautious. The next day back at work could be seriously “awks”.
Foxy top tip 5: Keep your opinions to yourself. Sometimes, our drunken minds run away with us and we end up saying things we regret. There is a time and a place for discussions and it’s certainly not at the staff party. If you know that you have the tendency to blabber on after a drink or two, then try to hold back on the booze.
Foxy top tip 6: Don’t drink too much. The free bar may mean that the drinks will be flowing, but don’t fall into the trap of drinking more than you can handle. Know your limits and don’t go over them.
Foxy top tip 7: Don’t be memorable for all the wrong reasons. While it’s great to make a lasting impression on your colleagues, it’s important to not be too memorable. Nobody wants to be known as the person who photocopied their arse or puked up in the lift.
Foxy top tip 8: No flirting with the boss. Remember to always keep it professional. Never say anything that could be misread as being flirtatious. The same goes for touching as well. The safest option is always the handshake rather than kiss or hug.
Foxy top tip 9: Thank the host. If it is your boss who is hosting the evening, the polite thing to do would be to send over a thank-you gesture. Or if you know for a fact it was their assistant who did most of the work, it wouldn’t harm to thank them too.
Foxy top tip 10: Know when enough is enough. If you find yourself making so much as a slight fool of yourself, then perhaps it’s time to hail a cab and head home.
So, I hear you ask, how come I know all these top tips work?
Well, although many may seem as plain as the nose on your face, suffice to say, when you’ve made as much of an arse of yourself as I have over the years you learn the hard way.
Why do you think I’m still writing this nonsense when all my contemporaries are getting showered with praise at the British Society of Magazine Editors Awards at the glitzy Pan Pacific in London? Bah.
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