Merry Christmas my friends. I wanted to take this time to thank you for making DeanBlundell.com an unmitigated marginal success.
We’ve had 4 million of you join us on the blog or listen to one of our 7 podcasts this year and most of you only started coming around 6-8 months ago. Thank you.

I felt I needed to give something back. Something you’ll always have but doesn’t cost anything. Something you’ll always remember but don’t need to pick up at the post office.
So, here’s some holiday help in the form of my ‘Tricks to shaving hours off Christmas family gatherings”. Vol 1.

TIPS
1. Always offer to drop passengers off close to the door so you can leave and park the car.
This shit is ‘party shaving’ 101. Everyone will think you are a gentleman but if you circle the block, have a smoke, or grab a quick 15 minutes on social media. You’re -15 minutes before the party starts.

I’m skeeving a family Xmas party. Here’s how… https://t.co/6lTxGS3zjS

— Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) December 25, 2019

2. The old “Did I lock the car?” verbal query.
This is good stuff especially if you didn’t use the ‘Drop Off” trick to start the party. You can take an easy 10 minutes off the humid breath filled kitchen next to your least favorite mustachioed aunt.  When you come back, you can also reposition next to someone you actually give a shit to speak with for more than 5 minutes.

3. Take a smoke break. Don’t smoke?  No problem.  Just tell your significant other you’re just going to keep Uncle Barry company outside while he smokes or just disappear altogether timing your return to coincide with the smoker’s return. Assuming Uncle Barry goes for 4 smoke breaks in a 4-hour timeframe and each smoke takes 10-12 minutes, your down a combined 45 minutes (conservatively) of ‘Forced fun’.

4. Always offer to ‘Make a run” should the party host or ANY guests need anything.  Grandma needs her inhaler or the hosts run out of ice?  Volunteer early and often and never say no.  This is about you creating a great reputation too.  If you’re new to the family or relationship,  this is the greatest weapon in your arsenal.    It’s the swiss army knives of skeeving time from not just Xmas parties, but any party.  This will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour off your evening if done right.

5. Go out early to start the car.  It’s childish and trivial but when it’s life or death, this can get you out of any party 10-30 minutes before your friend/spouse/family is ready to go.

I did it live last night.  Have a look.  The visuals might help.

Leaving the family Xmas party. A how to: https://t.co/wv0bIiX4kT

— Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) December 25, 2019

If you do the math, assuming one bathroom break (20 min), you’ll shave 1 hour, 45 minutes off ANY family XMAS gathering this holiday season.

So from ours to yours,

Merry Christmas.

Thank you.

You’re welcome.

D