So here it, Silly Season.

Decorations go up in your office, Barbara from Finance starts wearing a Santa hat, your annoying colleague starts playing the same Christmas CD over and over in an effort to be more popular and the dreaded Office Christmas party looms large.

While I simply adore the Holiday season (I’m a sucker for the whole home and hearth, donner and blitzen, bah and hambug thing) I recognise how awkward these office Christmas parties can be, particularly if you’re a bit on the shy side or can think of nothing worse than socialising with your co-workers.

A recent survey found that nearly a third of British workers actively hate the office Christmas party, with almost 70 per cent not wanting to socialise with their co-workers. That’s a lot of pissed off people in a lot of awkward social situations.

There are all kinds of do’s and don’ts for these occasions that can confuse the pants off you (better than having the pants seduced off you in the stationary cupboard) and even though a lot of companies are scaling down their parties, the chances are you still have some function or other in your diary.

Whether it’s drinks in your office or dinner someplace else, here are 7 ways to be confident and comfortable at your office Christmas party:

1. It’s just 3 or 4 hours

This is the tiniest little chunk of time out of your year. Yes, it’s time that you won’t get back but Christmas is about giving, right? Suck it up, and even if you’re not enjoying the night be comforted by the fact that you’ll soon be out of there.

Also remember that everyone’s in the same boat. If you’re feeling like you’d rather not be there you can bet that other people will feel the same way. Make a joke of it, get over it and you’ll stand a better chance of having a good time.

2. Don’t be on your best behaviour

I know. A lot of sites tell you that an office Christmas party is not a time for you to relax or let your hair down, and that if you put a foot wrong it’ll be remembered and used against you in the future.

Now, this is just my opinion, but how flippin dull does that sound? If you can’t relax and let your gurard down at a Christmas bash, then when the hell can you?

I’m not suggesting you start a naked conga or demand that your boss does a dozen flaming tequila shots with you, but if it’s being led from the top you can most definitely relax and let go of yourself.

How would you be if the room was full of your friends? I always think that Christmas is a time to be at your best and most generous, so be generous with yourself and don’t be afraid to surprise people by showing them a different side to you.

3. Have a flexible exit strategy

You need an exit strategy for 2 reasons. Firstly if you’re stuck in a conversational cul-de-sac that’s making you squirm, you’re allowed to excuse yourself and move on. Say you’re going to top up your drink, off to visit the bathroom or off to mingle.

Secondly, you need an exit strategy for the evening itself to make sure you can leave when you think you’ll be ready. Book that cab to take you home or get your partner to pick you up – just make sure there’s some flexibility in case you find yourself having fun and want to stay a bit longer.

Why have an exit strategy? Because it closes the circle and makes you feel better about the fact that you have a concrete way out at the end of the evening.

4. What do you regret about last year?

Look back to last years Christmas party and what you learned. Did you wish you’d let you hair down more and had more fun? Do you wish you’d booked a cab to get you home? Do you wish you kissed that dishy guy from Sales?

3 years ago when I was doing my 4 hours a week at my local Gap store, I went along to the big Christmas bash and had a whale of a time. I drank, ate, made merry and spent the latter part of the evening in a tongue sandwich with Shelli, a co-worker with whom there’d been much flirting back and forth in the store. I could have behaved myself and kept my tongue in my mouth, but you know what, I’m so glad I said ‘What the hell’ and that we ended up ‘sucking face’. Otherwise I’d have regretted playing it safe and (as it was mutual) we both had a brilliant night.

5. Have 3 people you can laugh with

Make sure there are a minimum of 3 people you can relax with, chat with and laugh with. This not only mean

you more than enough scope for a great evening but says a lot about how you’re being at work. Being nice goes a hell of a long way at work, and helps to build all kinds of relationships.

If you feel uncomfortable in large social gatherings, having 3 people you know you can laugh with means that you‘re only ever a few steps away from some easy conversation and laughter that feels comfortable.

6. Throw away the memes

You have to throw away the memes that make you dread the office party without any good reason. The Christmas Party is the butt of many jokes, and we’re conditioned to turn our noses up at it or look for ways to avoid it. Throwing away all those limiting expectations and memetic beliefs makes room for having a good time.

7. Suggest your own ‘do’

If you really can’t handle the big company bash or if the big party has been canned by the guys in their corner offices, how about suggesting that you have a smaller, team-focused do of your own design?

That gives you the chance to spend it with the people you work closest with (which are hopefully the people you get on with the best) and to do something that suits your own requirements. Have a long lunch with your team, go for drinks after work, take an afternoon out to visit a Christmas fair – whatever it is, plan something that can fill you all with Christmas spirit.

So that’s how you can have a confident and fun Christmas party (I could go on but I know you’ve got stuff to do), and while we’re on the subject let me leave you with a a clip from one of the best Christmas parties I’ve seen…