Holiday Cheer in the Office

By Juanita Ecker

Due to the economy, a lot of companies seem to be swapping their holiday parties for a more informal group lunch, or are shutting down a few hours early and hosting potlucks in the office itself. But no matter what type of celebration your company has planned, it’s important to follow these codes of conduct:

Keep it clean. Steer clear of “Dirty Santa” jokes, overly sexy holiday costumes, inappropriate use of the copy machine or other office supplies, childish antics, and chasing down co-workers with a handful of mistletoe. Getting hot and heavy on the dance floor or flirting outrageously with colleagues will also guarantee you a spot in the company gossip mill for months, if not years, to come. Have fun, but remember that you still have to work with these folks.

Go easy on the alcohol. Getting drunk on mulled wine and eggnog will only lead to bad behavior and damaged credibility… not to mention a brutal hangover. Stick to just one or two drinks, alternate with water, and graze away to avoid drinking on an empty stomach.

Participate. If your company is closing early for a holiday celebration, don’t take it as an opportunity to leave early and finish your gift-buying. Just because you’re not technically working doesn’t mean you can skip out on the festivities. And don’t slave away at your desk while everyone is celebrating. It’s time to join in, raise a glass, and do some quality bonding.

Juggling Holiday Plans

By Juanita Ecker

A friend of mine has divorced parents who don’t speak to each other. Throw in in-laws, and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas become very stressful. Either someone gets left out, or there has to be three different gatherings to accommodate everyone. It’s easy for the spirit of the season to get lost in the shuffle.

As we get older, our family life can become more complicated. Suddenly it’s not just Mom, Dad, and the kids. There are in-laws and other families to consider. There may be divorces, split custodies, and hurt feelings. Everyone wants a piece of the pie (literally and figuratively), but it’s hard to see how to please everyone, short of cloning yourself or flying in Dr. Phil.

So how can you survive the holidays with your sanity intact? These tips will help.

Compromise when you can. If you’re in a serious relationship, or have children who are married, you can’t expect that things will always be the same. Even if you’re not crazy about your in-laws, you have to accept that you will have to spend time with them during the holidays. Be fair, and don’t give people guilt trips.

Realize that you can’t please everyone all of the time. Sometimes when we try to please everybody, we wind up exhausting ourselves and satisfying no one. What’s the fun in rushing from family to family on Thanksgiving if you can’t actually spend quality time with anyone? Rather than trying to be in 5 places at once, prioritize your holidays with your partner. Perhaps you can spend Thanksgiving with his family, and Christmas Eve with yours, and Christmas with another group of relatives.

How to Get Along with Relatives over the Holidays

By Juanita Ecker

In a perfect world, Christmas at your home would look like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting: a roaring fire, happy children playing with their presents, and adults blissfully singing carols while sipping eggnog.

In reality, however, there’s bickering, overcrowding, nosy questions and frayed nerves.

The question is, how do you avoid tension with your family members and focus on a smooth, joyful holiday? Try these helpful tips:

Don’t expect perfection. Try not to let the small annoyances—Cousin Al’s burping, your sister’s failure to help in the kitchen—bother you. A little patience goes a long way!

Avoid touchy subjects. Every family has “don’t go there” topics. Maybe you and a relative have different views on how to raise your children, or perhaps there are issues from the past that you will never see eye to eye on. Do you really need to bring them up over Christmas dinner? No! And if someone persists, just tell him or her that you’ll have to agree to disagree before changing subjects.