I always know when the silly season starts; as soon as the invitations start to arrive for Melbourne Cup Day, I know the silly season is on my doorstep once again. And I ponder how my feet will hold up to the party season this year? will I have to force myself to go out and buy new shoes?
I was recently reminded of the frailties of human nature and the damage a few too many champagnes can do during the silly season. Enjoying an outdoor lunch overlooking the harbour on the weekend I saw a young woman (no more than 25) stumbling along in a gorgeous designer dress and too die for shoes with smeared mascara and clearly one too many champagnes being supported by her “work mates” in her attempt to walk a straight line.
The scene reminded me of a saying a business colleague gives her staff every year before their end of year function “keep yourself nice, no-one likes a messy drunk”. My colleague loves a good party and has no problem with a few champagnes, however, she draws the line at over indulgence at work-do’s and I agree with her. There is a time and place for everything and work, business and your career are not the places for over indulgence with the champagne.
Here are a couple of tips for keeping yourself nice this season:
1. Eat well; make sure that you have enough food to balance the amount of alcohol you are consuming
2. Drink plenty of water in between; keeping yourself well hydrated is essential for your health as well as a good tool for slowing your pace between drinks down
3. Pace yourself; end of year functions and Christmas parties can go for anwhere between 2-8 hours. Consciously think about how many drinks you are having and pace yourself – there is usually no prize for guzzeling at these events.
4. Wear sensible shoes; after a champagne or two it does become a bit tricky balancing on pencil thin towers and if you do have a propensity to do 4 – 5 champers you are asking for trouble. I must point out I said sensible shoes not nana shoes (according to my friend Sam Woods from Vibrant Concepts) these should be avoided at all costs.
5. Get a ‘keep yourself nice buddy‘; a work colleague that will keep their eye on you and remind you to keep yourself nice if you start to stray into ‘messy drunk land’.
6. Think before you speak or act; One of my favourite sayings is “loose lips sink ships”, and the quickest way to create loose lips is too much alcohol giving you a sense of bravado and confidence you wouldn’t normally have. Think about the consequences of saying something innapropriate or that should not be revealed before you say it.
7. Amorous behaviour is for the bedroom not the work-do; Yep you know what I’m talking about – the Christmas party pash that you think no-one will know about or see. Think again! these things have a way of attracting attention on their own. And if you are with your partner no-one wants an insight to what goes on behind your closed doors. Be respectful of the people you work with and that are around you.
Now for those of you that know me well you know I love a good party and celebration so do enjoy yourself – just remeber to keep yourself nice this silly season!
Until next time, enjoy your parties
Sue
