Watch any Christmas movie and you’ll see a winter wonderland filled with family and friends, baking cookies, holiday shopping, and a lot of celebration. While I’m fully on board with festive movie marathons and indulging in the traditions that come with the holiday season, there is one part of it that peaks my anxiety: holiday parties.
Between the office holiday party, annual family get-together, Friendsmas potluck, and white elephant exchange, it can feel like every weekend is committed to a social gathering. For introverts with social anxiety, it’s hard to keep up with the constant holiday celebrations. Ahead are some tips to help you get through holiday parties with ease.
1. Meditate
Social anxiety doesn’t just occur at social events. It usually arrives well before the party has even begun, which is why it’s important to set yourself up for success ahead of time. Your getting-ready routine should not only involve a good playlist and make-up tutorial, but also setting aside some time to meditate before heading out. Meditation should be a part of your daily routine, but on a night when you're attending a big event that you know will trigger your anxiety, then add a 10-20 minute guided meditation sesh beforehand to help calm your nerves and get you in the right headspace. Just by prioritizing meditation, you can walk out the door feeling ready to socialize with confidence.
2. Practice an affirmation
Affirmations often go hand-in-hand with meditation practices, but I find they’re also particularly helpful on their own to repeat to yourself during situations that may cause anxiety. The benefits come from repeating the word or phrase over and over again, which creates a focal point to align yourself in the present moment. You can create your own affirmations specific to the situations that cause you social anxiety or you can try some more general sayings. Practicing an affirmation before or during a social event can be a great aid in working through any social anxiety that may arise.
3. Bring a friend
Experiencing any mental health struggles can be especially difficult during this season, but the good news is you don’t have to go it alone. Despite the common perception that we have to face our struggles around anxiety on our own, having friends by your side who understand your anxiety will make it much easier for you to navigate social events. If there’s a party you don’t feel comfortable going to alone, bring a friend. If simply the idea of attending a social event solo causes anxiety, bring someone you trust and who can be your support system throughout the night as your plus one. You just might find yourself so wrapped up in the holiday spirit that you forget why you were even anxious about attending the event in the first place.
4. Have a plan
Anxiety takes over when you feel a lack of control, so for starters, you think of every social anxiety-inducing situation that could happen at the party and come up with a plan. One might be standing alone and not feeling comfortable joining a conversation. In that case, make your way to a space you feel comfortable in and that will make it easier for you to socialize, like the bar/food area or even the bathroom.
5. Congratulate yourself
Living with social anxiety can feel like an ongoing battle. Sometimes you don’t know when or how it will arise. So when you do have to face it, whether at a holiday party or a work dinner, it’s important to remember that just leaving the house is a win. Congratulate yourself for putting on that LBD and spending a couple of hours in a social situation that may make you want to run home and crawl into bed. Try making a list of all the little wins you had that evening, and remember them the next time you are attending a social event. We often forget to stop and take note of what we’ve accomplished, which includes surviving social anxiety during the holiday season.
- Bee 🐝
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