Surviving hours of small talk at your office holiday party: Tips from a workplace wellness expert.

Office holiday parties can be a landmine for awkward encounters.

Many individuals, particularly those with social anxiety, may experience this sentiment.

Gloria Chan Packer, a workplace mental wellness expert and founder of Recalibrate, notes that even the most outgoing individuals may feel apprehensive about attending a work holiday event.

She says that it can be amusing to merge the boundaries between personal celebrations and work events.

According to Packer, attending holiday parties can be valuable because it allows for engagement with colleagues.

She provides her best advice for maximizing office holiday parties, including preparing an early exit plan.

1. Set a time limit

To manage the busy schedule during this time of year, Packer suggests setting a weekly limit on events based on available time and energy.

When attending events, it's beneficial to set goals for the duration of the event, such as identifying individuals to speak with and the type of connection you aim to establish by the end.

Set a timer for every 30 minutes and check in with yourself at each interval to determine if you're still enjoying yourself or if it's time to depart, Packer advises.

2. Prepare a few conversation starters

To avoid anxiety when engaging in small talk for hours, Packer suggests preparing a few conversation starters in advance to help deepen the discussion.

Instead of asking "What's your role at the company?", try asking "What's one of your favorite holiday traditions?" or "What's one of your favorite holiday memories?" to connect on a deeper level.

Keep up the momentum even as others join the conversation.

"This often occurs at holiday gatherings when you engage in a deeper conversation and someone interrupts, causing you to feel like you've been pulled back into small talk," Packer remarks. Instead, "you can politely maintain the depth of the conversation by welcoming the other person and saying, 'Hey, this is what we were discussing. We'd love to hear your thoughts on it too.'"

Packer advises that having tools to maintain influence in a situation can help alleviate anxious feelings.

3. Rehearse your exit strategy

To avoid feeling like a people-pleaser when leaving events, Packer suggests preparing a few sentences to explain your reasons for leaving without causing any inconvenience.

Before departing, you can express your gratitude for hosting the holiday event and share that you had a wonderful time. You can also mention that you have other obligations to attend to, so you must leave.

"Packer suggests approaching social events with a structured plan, similar to how one would approach a meeting or work."

If you're feeling stressed or anxious about an upcoming work event, take a moment to reflect on the root cause of your feelings and try to find ways to address them proactively.

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