As Britain goes to the polls today in the midst of the festive season, for the first time in a century, parties are hot topics even more than they usually would be in December.

Life is all about the choices we make. Make Me A Plan has accordingly compiled a handy guide to assist with seasonal decision-making, as follows…

FOOD

You know that feeling that it’s often feast or famine?

Too much to choose from or a dearth of decent quality options?

Well, it’s important to eat, and to vote. If you don’t like what’s on the political menu today, make the choice that will irritate your gut the least.

If you feel under pressure to spend what you can’t afford, or binge on unhealthy food at Christmas gatherings, the same advice applies. Our Make Me A Plan top tip is to cut out one calorie-high, nutrient-low item to prove to yourself you can at your next party. This might be not having bread with a soup starter, not having sugary sauces with a roast dinner, or having fruit with cream instead of a traditional pudding.

DRINK

Here at Make Me A Plan, we’d never encourage excessive drinking. However, at the ballot box, it is an opportunity to get drunk on power and remember that everything that happens on a local or national government level, is because of how you did or didn’t vote today.

Christmas parties are often centred around binge drinking and don’t consider that many people don’t like to drink alcohol, or don’t want to make social occasions all about unhealthy choices. It’s ok to be one of those people! Here, our top tip to cut down on sugar, is to dilute fresh fruit juice with water – it will still taste nice but won’t give you a massive insulin rush or sugar crash. It’s also totally fine to just drink water, rather than alcohol, or alternate. You can try this for one hour of one party, or one whole party, or one whole week, and see if it works for you.

DRESS CODE

Colour co-ordination is a stock phrase in the dress code canon and no doubt, you’ll be wanting to choose colours that work for you this festive season.  NB, filters are neither mandatory nor needed to finish off your yuletide image.

Colour co-ordination is the dream for politics too, right? Politicians working together on policies and projects, like Joe and Joanna Public do every day in the home and in the workplace. You have nothing to fear from a hung parliament or a coalition and everything to regret if you vote for something you don’t believe in, but a propaganda machine does.

CONVERSATIONS

Newsflash: when it comes to voting, talking to yourself isn’t mad. It’s actually a really good way of asking you what the fundamental issues are, and using your gut responses to guide your polling booth pen. Will you be a turkey who votes for Christmas, or a human who votes with their head and heart today?

It’s good to talk, but also, Christmas isn’t always a happy time for everyone. Check in with your workmates, friends and family, but also remember that joining in the party might not be everyone’s cup of egg nogg (or plantbased alternative). Open up a conversation and allow friends the scope to say they want some calm time out from festivities.

On that note, I’m conscious that the turn of the year can be a time of intense pressure for people. The Philosopher-In-Residence will be taking some time off over Christmas and when I return in the New Year, I’ll be musing in a special series throughout January and February on coping strategies to aid mental health and wellbeing.

Please do get in touch with any particular aspects of those topics you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning (and Happy Partying)

Anna