A 60-Second Holiday Party Survival Secret
When cocktails aren’t enough, here’s how to navigate social situations like a pro
‘Tis the season for special moments…
You know, like when someone corners you at a holiday party to blather on ad nauseam about their crypto investments or their kid's latest soccer achievement, and your eyes start glazing over as you desperately search for the nearest exit.
(Though if you're an introvert or even an ambivert like me, you may have started scanning for exits the moment you walked in!😅)
At this time a year, your calendar might be fuller than a wine glass at an open bar. Office parties, client meetups, family gatherings, gift exchanges... each one with its own special flavor of social pressure and energy drain.
Don't get me wrong -- connection is beautiful, and these events can be too.
But in the spirit of being honest, socializing during the holidays can feel like another item on our to-do list. Especially if you add in juggling end-of-year deadlines and trying to wrap up Q4 strong.
You know the solution, right?
Set boundaries.
Stick to them.
And take a deep breath.
Your breath can be a powerful weapon for staying calm, focused, and present during these events (without needing an actual drink in your hand).
In fact, I’ve even created a "Bathroom Break Reset" breath technique for you… because let's face it, that's often the only place you can get a moment of peace at a holiday gathering!
The Bathroom Break Reset
Excuse yourself (no need to announce you're doing breathwork - "powder room" works just fine 😉)
Find a quiet spot (bathroom, empty hallway, maybe even your car depending on the weather situation)
Place one hand on your belly, the other on your heart, and close your eyes
Take 4 slow, deep breaths, making each exhale a little longer than the previous one
As you exhale, focus on dropping your shoulders and relaxing your jaw
Open your eyes and take one final deep breath.
Give yourself a Mel Robbins-style high five in the mirror before heading back into the party.
The whole thing takes less than a minute, so you won’t be the one holding up the bathroom line. But it's enough opportunity to hit the reset button on your nervous system.
How is that possible?
First, those longer exhales tell your body "hey, we're safe here". This is the literal opposite of the fight-or-flight response that kicks in when Uncle Bob starts his political rant.
Second, the hand placement (heart and belly) activates your body's natural calming response. This is like a hug, which we instinctively do when we're trying to comfort others – but it works really well to soothe ourselves too and can actually help to lower our levels of cortisol, a major stress hormone.
And finally, 30-60 seconds or so of breathing gives your system enough time to shift out of "overwhelm" and back into "I've got this".
By the way, you can use this technique multiple times throughout an event. Having a bathroom break is totally normal - no one will know you're actually doing an energy reset. Or hell, maybe just do an energy reset any time you go to the bathroom anyway.
Of course, sometimes you might get stuck in a situation where you feel like you can’t immediately pull yourself away…
In that case, try this ninja-level Stealth Reset. It's similar to the Bathroom Break Reset, but you can do it right in the middle of a conversation.
The Stealth Reset
Keep one foot firmly planted on the ground (this is your anchor).
As you're nodding along to the conversation, take three slow breaths.
Your exhales should be silent and slightly longer than your inhales.
Imagine each breath traveling all the way down your body to that planted foot.
Release any tension in your shoulders as you exhale.
It’s subtle enough that no one will notice, but powerful enough to help you stay centered when the office gossip is in full swing or when your nosy neighbor asks (again) when you're going to get a "real job."
Just because it's the "season to be jolly" doesn't mean you have to be "on" all the time. These breathing techniques give you a way to regulate your energy and maintain your boundaries without dimming anyone else's holiday spirit.
They're like your own personal "time out" button - use them as often as you need!
Last Gasp
“What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a new job the next day.”
~ Phyllis Diller
A Little Extra Sumpin’ Sumpin’
I have a gift for you!
It’s my way of saying thanks for reading and being one of my first supporters.
I’ve got 5 breathing techniques that will help you change how you feel in 5 minutes or less. And I put together a little kit for you which has JPEGs (so you can use them like a digital card deck), a PDF for easy reading on most devices, and a couple demo videos.
Grab your free “5 Breaths in 5 Minutes” kit here, just in time for the holidays.
Great tips for a lot of situations beyond parties! Thanks Candice!