It’s getting to that time of year again. When the social invitations start streaming in and we get the opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new people along the way. Racing Carnival will roll into work wrap-up parties, then Christmas and New Years will be here and gone. Great times, lots of laughs and probably way too much overindulging…. You do know it doesn’t have to be that way, don’t you? Apparently you can still have a wow of a time without too much alcohol and fatty foods – who knew?? There are some little tricks that you can use to be mentally prepared for these eventualities; the trouble is, when you’re in the thick of things it's a little hard to say no; especially when everyone around you is making sure they do everything they can to include you in the party! Whilst it’s pretty easy to be reactive and go along with what everyone else is doing (and this could be for any number of reasons), a little forethought can save you endless self-recrimination later. Be psychologically prepared – your positive mindset at these events is vital in ensuring the day/night goes as planned: —  Fun social occasions don't need to rely on lots of alcohol, and nor does your winning personality. Approach each event with a positive attitude and be prepared to have a great time without all the drinks - and in all likelihood, you probably will. —  A sure fire way to overindulge is to turn up to every event hungry. You'll inevitably serve yourself massive portions of every dish going, only to regret it later. If this sounds familiar, make sure you eat something healthy and nutritious before heading out the door. —  Remember the holiday season is meant to be fun. With everything that happens between now and the end of the year, it's easy to become stressed and anxious - which can easily lead to overindulgence. But right now is the perfect time to think about what you want to get out of the summer season, so come January there'll be no regrets.