Dreading the Company Holiday Party? Science Helps Explain Why
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Introverts Unite: Office holiday parties and post-work happy hours are back (thanks to post-COVID return-to-office mandates) and while some people love the free drinks and mingling, others find these events exhausting. New research out of the University of Georgia tells every introvert what they’ve been wanting to hear: no, you’re not wrong for dreading your company’s Christmas party.
The Study: The researchers looked at how employees experience alcohol-centric work events. Researchers found that workers who felt pressured to attend or drink — especially those who prefer to keep work and personal lives separate — reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion and work-family conflict. The stress wasn’t about alcohol itself so much as blurred boundaries: when social expectations bleed into professional roles, it can feel like unpaid emotional labor.
The Takeaway: Mandatory-ish fun isn’t for everyone. For some, it adds to burnout rather than relieving it. These strategies can help: arrive late, leave early, alternate drinks with water, and give yourself a planned and clear exit. (And you can always ask the office to stock up on some good non-alcoholic drinks.)
Keep In Mind: The study relies on self-reported data and doesn’t mean work happy hours are inherently bad. Many people genuinely enjoy them. But it’s a reminder that one size of workplace “bonding” doesn’t fit all, and opting out can be a valid form of self-care.
