It’s the silly season when Christmas parties reign supreme. This is the chance for everyone to make merry, drink a shed load and have tonnes of fun. But is it really that fun? How many days of Christmas have you lost to the pain of hangovers, lethargy and regret? How many precious moments will be wasted due to anxiety and beer fear? And what about the misplaced kiss or drunken office mortification?
Please don’t misunderstand us – we are not trying to be a fun sponge! But over the last few years, we and thousands of others have discovered that the conventional wisdom that screams “You need alcohol in your life to have fun, be social and enjoy Christmas!” is wrong.
Just imagine turning up to this year’s Christmas Party and having a great time – alcohol free. Imagine loving every day of Christmas this year with no hangovers, regret, anxiety or lethargy.
If you want to make this Christmas the best yet – here are our top 9 tips to survive and thrive at this year’s Christmas Party – alcohol free.
1. Know exactly what you’re going to drink and have a backup drink
This might sound over the top, but it’s key to know exactly what you’re going to drink. You are about to fight years of social and psychological conditioning and you need to be prepared or old habits will take over. Phone the venue in advance to find out if they stock alcohol-free alternatives.
Non-alcoholic larger, for example, is a brilliant choice because in the words of Louis Walsh, “It looks like a beer, it tastes like a beer and reminds me of a young alcoholic beer.” People will leave you alone when they see something that looks alcoholic. This saves you spending the whole night explaining yourself and having your rubber arm twisted.
If no look-alikes are available, create your own such as a soda water with lime. Get creative but always make sure you have a few options in mind in case one runs out or is not stocked.
2. Use visualisation to prepare like a world-class athlete
Just like an athlete uses visualisation to prepare for a competition, you should rehearse your alcohol-free evening in your mind. The beauty of visualisation is that you can rehearse as many times as you like in your head. This is why athletes use this technique. They can’t run a thousand 100 meters but they can rehearse a thousand races in their mind in minutes.
By mentally practicing what you will say hearing the bartender ask for your drink order, your mind and body will know how to react.
3. Write down all the reasons why you don’t want to drink
Amazing research has shown that writing down your thoughts is great for changing habits and general wellness. But more than this, it creates a change mindset, preparing you for the task ahead. Before you arrive at the party, remind yourself over and over all the reasons why you don’t want to drink.
4. Take out the ring leaders
If you are unsure about how your friends and colleagues will respond to you going alcohol free, consider taking out the ring leaders first. Before you meet that ‘mate’ in the bar – you know, the one who holds court and who can also make your life a misery with their witty repartee – tell them all the reasons you are on this adventure (refer back to point 3). This is not a conversation to have via text – meet this person face-to-face if possible and get them onboard. Once you have their backing, watch the rest follow.
5. Remember: YOU DON’T HAVE TO DRINK IT JUST BECAUSE YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE BOUGHT IT
This will happen – someone will hand you a drink, or, even more troubling, you might mindlessly order an alcoholic drink. Remember, you are fighting years off social and psychological conditioning. This is perfectly normal behaviour. The key is to notice this, smile and “step away from the drink, with your hands where we can see them.” Take a deep breath, buy yourself some time and then reorder what you really want.
6. Always have an escape route
Whilst alcohol free parties can be off the scale fun, most people are on a different planet come midnight. So always have an escape route. Pre-book a cab or know what time the last train is. Have a time in mind and stick to it. When you get into the cab – make sure to do a mini fist pump. Pat yourself on the back, smile wide and look forward to the morning, knowing you will feel great when the rest of your mates will be in a right mess!
7. No one cares that you’ve left
Don’t say goodbye. The truth is that once your mates have had a few, they won’t miss you. This will help you avoid the headlocks, tears, rubber arm twisting and the “Come on, have one last one with me….why are you such a boring [fill in blank]?” We all like to feel we’re special and without us the party won’t be the same, but in reality as it gets messy, people won’t notice what time you left.
8. Turn the night into a mini challenge
The average Christmas night out lasts roughly five hours – that’s all you have to survive. Why not make a game out of it and have fun? Score a point for every drunken snog you witness, 2 points for how many times your best mate says “I love you!” and so on. The jackpot – dancing sober! Get creative and turn it into five hours of fun.
9. Celebrate your success
Surprisingly, many of the greatest moments we have witnessed from thousands of our OneYearNoBeer members comes after a big social challenge. When you first attend the wedding, holiday, stag or Christmas party alcohol free, there is a rush of confidence that is the foundation of a deep belief that actually life is so much better without the booze.
Rather than viewing these events as a reason to put off an alcohol-free challenge, they are the reason to start. So at the end of the night celebrate by treating yourself to something nice – you deserve it. The best treat of all, however, is waking up the following morning full of life and ready to take on the world!
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