How to: Survive your virtual office holiday party

As we are waiting to come out of Lockdown#2 it looks like the usual Christmas parties will simply not be happening this year (and if they do they will be socially-distanced).

In their place we are expecting to see a rise in virtual Christmas Parties with interactions taking place over Zoom, teams or other video platforms. There is a risk this year that these parties will be forced and we will be forced to take part in structured virtual activities such as pub quizzes and escape rooms, online games, drinking masterclasses etc.

While I enjoy virtual activities and crave social interaction while working from home, I am suffering from what has become known as Zoom fatigue. I am tired. My colleagues are tired. Making conversation and small talk requires a lot of effort these days.

So here are some quick tips to help ensure that you survive your virtual office or team holiday party:

01. Think Positively

It’s easy to focus on all the reasons you don’t want to attend a party. Instead, focus on the positives. Write down your list of positives so that you can revisit this if you feel anxious, nervous, tired or unmotivated.

02. Make an Effort

Make an effort to throw yourself into whatever activities are planned and any dress code etc. If there isn’t a specific dress code, why not take the opportunity to get a bit dressed up so that it feels more like a party (or at least a bit different from the other endless zoom calls) and encourage your colleagues to do so as well.

03. Smile

As well as thinking positively, it is important to also have positive body language. Smile and make eye contact. This is of course harder on video, but smiling and using eye contact is a simple way to let people know that you are present and engages and what to have a conversation.

04. Take Breaks

It can be tiring being on video all the time and you might need a break. Don’t be afraid to turn off your video if you need a short break. Blame the wi-fi connection speed if you need to.

05. Be a Good Listener

Remember you don’t need to talk all the time. Just listen to the conversation if you need some downtime. However, it is useful to come armed with a few conversation starters and open questions in case the conversation needs a boost.

06. Have an Exit Strategy

Give yourself permission to leave early if you are not having fun or are feeling drained. Hopefully, when you get into it you will end up having fun, but it can be useful to have an exit strategy as a back up in case it is needed.