It’s that time of the year again for compulsory interaction. From one get-together to another owanbe, December is here to test your social skills mercilessly. The festivities do not care whether you've been fighting for your mental health all year or whether you're in the mood to relate. Unless you want to offend, you must step out this season.

After living most of the year online and relating with family, colleagues (shout-out to remote workers), and friends through screens, it’s finally time to meet physically and catch up on the details in real time. But you don’t have to go through this emotional obstacle course of December gatherings alone. If you do these things, you're guaranteed sanity throughout the holidays:

The meddlesome, oversabi aunt will be present at the family get-together to cross-examine your relationship status. Your "big Mummy" is coming to make the family gathering unbearable for everyone with her strict rules and regulations on how to sit like a lady, eat like a gentleman, breathe, and exist.&nbsp;

Your cousins have probably upgraded to iPhone 17 and will not fail to rub it in your face. You won’t have to ask; they will gladly volunteer updates on “who don blow pass” this year.

But you don’t have to feel pressured. Decide to disclose only what you're comfortable with. Stand firm in your skin and simply be yourself. No one is allowed to place unrealistic demands on you. You’re the main character in your own story, remember?

Your ex-schoolmates have already started planning a secondary school reunion — an idea that should normally make you happy. But right now, you're just wondering what will happen if your social battery dies mid-event and you can't stand them anymore.

As if that’s not enough, your office has organised an end-of-year party. In your defence, you were too busy trying to please your boss to socialise at work. Hence, now you're overthinking how everything will pan out. And if everyone else shows up with a plus-one? It may trigger that sinking feeling of being left out.

A simple rule of life is that if you're overthinking it, you probably shouldn't do it. No one knows your social threshold better than you. There's no award for "Most Events Attended in December". Go where you feel welcomed, and relate with people who make you feel accepted.&nbsp;

Still, if you want to practise those social skills you intentionally developed in 2025, this is a good time to step out of your comfort zone. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to love it. You just have to show up. But you must remember to respect yourself. You're the big deal. Not anyone else.

Let’s face it, Nigerians will always fight over food. It’s almost a cultural signature at this point. Somehow, despite all budgets and all planning, there will always be food shortages that deteriorate into unnecessary and embarrassing disagreements.

To be safe, if your estate or family friends are organising a love feast, eat down before going. You're already stressed brainstorming what to contribute; don't add hunger to the mix. Prepare your mind for the food politics that will almost certainly unfold.

Expect the madness that comes with being a Nigerian. It doesn’t magically disappear in December. If you don’t prepare, you’ll be caught off guard and offended when things go south… which they absolutely will.

At the end of the day, the goal is fun, rest, and relaxation. Your December outings should be a breath of fresh air, not an extra source of headache. If any end-of-year gathering starts posing as stress, exit it ASAP. Ignore anybody and anything that threatens your peace.

Candid advice? Ghost with stealth, especially with family. As the case may be, disappear from the scene or respectfully exempt yourself from the conversation.

Ensure you cut your coat according to your size. If you don’t, January will be waiting to punish you for all your December extravagance. This is not the time to squander savings on one outfit for an AGM or dinner.

And yes, looking unattractive is not an option (especially if love hasn’t found you yet this year), but you can look hot, sexy, and put-together on a friendly budget. Just do well to cross-check your accounts before tapping your card at that store.

The goal is not to impress anybody. Impress yourself, and the right people will be drawn to you. As you step out this season, expect goodness to find you. Beyond the chaos and noise lie opportunities, networks, love, money, and great food, tucked inside these end-of-year gatherings. It all depends on your perspective.

You’re bound to find what you’re looking for.

A smart, no-nonsense manual for navigating December’s chaos — family wahala, social overload and festive pressure — without losing your mind, your money, or your peace.

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