🎄Holiday Parties: Yes or No?

Every holiday season, the same question rises like fruitcake at an office potluck:

Do I want to go… or do I want to stay home in sweatpants and protect my peace?

Let’s discuss.

The Case for Yes

Holiday parties sound fun in theory.

• Free food (sometimes good, sometimes suspicious)

• Sparkly outfits you don’t normally wear at 6 p.m.

• That brief moment where you think, “I’m festive. I’m social. Look at me thriving.”

And occasionally—occasionally—you laugh, connect, and leave thinking,
“Okay… that wasn’t terrible.”

Miracles happen.

The Case for Absolutely Not

Now, let’s be honest.

Holiday parties also include:

• Small talk that feels like speed dating but without the romance

• Loud music you didn’t consent to

• One person who corners you with a life story you didn’t request

• And the internal clock that starts counting down until it’s socially acceptable to leave

Plus, there’s the mental math:

Is this party worth giving up my couch, my dogs, my snacks, and my perfectly curated silence?

The answer is often… no.

My Official Policy

I’ve learned this:

• If I want to go → I go

• If I feel obligated → I politely decline and immediately feel lighter

Because the older I get, the more I realize:
🎄 Not attending is not a failure
🎄 Staying home is not “boring”
🎄 And protecting your energy is a valid holiday tradition

Sometimes the real celebration is:

• fuzzy socks

• a quiet evening

• and not explaining yourself to anyone

Final Verdict

Holiday parties?
✔️ Sometimes yes
❌ Often no
✨ Always optional

And honestly… that’s the most festive answer of all.