Holiday parties are a social endurance sport. You show up. You smile. You accept a drink you didn’t ask for. You nod through stories you’ve already heard three times this year. And at some point, you start wondering if faking a fire alarm is still frowned upon.

Here’s the truth: bringing a random date to a work or family holiday party is a bold move. Sometimes it’s cute. Other times it’s an absolute disaster. Your coworkers don’t need to meet someone you matched with yesterday, and your aunt Marge does not need a new audience for her extremely detailed health updates.

The smarter play? Plan the after-party date.

Setting up an OBC date after the holiday obligation gives you something magical: an exit strategy. Suddenly, every awkward interaction has an expiration time. You’re no longer trapped listening to Carl from Finance explain how he “almost” became a DJ in 2009. You’re just passing time until cocktails, freedom, and a much better conversation.

Even better, post-party dates come with built-in entertainment. You walk into drinks already armed with stories. Your date gets the highlights reel: the weird gift exchange, the uncle who overshared, the coworker who absolutely should not have had that fourth glass of eggnog. It’s instant bonding. It’s funny. It’s low effort. It’s way more charming than “So… what do you do?”

And let’s be honest — holiday parties drain your social battery. A casual date afterward is perfect because the bar is low. You’re not trying to impress. You’re trying to decompress. Cozy bar. One drink turns into two. Laughter replaces polite smiling. Mission accomplished.

This approach also keeps things light. No pressure to introduce anyone to your family. No forced mingling with your boss. No explaining who they are or why they’re there. Just two adults meeting up, unwinding, and seeing where the night goes.

So this weekend, don’t dread the party. Use it. Line up a post-party pick-me-up on OBC, survive the small talk, then reward yourself with someone new, fun, and refreshingly removed from your real life.

Holiday chaos first. OBC date after. You deserve it.