How to avoid Christmas chat when back to work

[Lottapianos]

I hate Christmas, find it really suffocating and fake. It highlights all the shitty stuff in my family and just generally drains me

I've been lucky enough to be off work for most of the period, and I go back next Tuesday. I mostly enjoy my job, and like my colleagues, so I'm not dreading it from that pov. What I am dreading is the cheery 'had a good Christmas?' and 'did you have a lovely Christmas?' from people. They're only being nice so I don't want to snarl at them or shut them down. If you have similar feelings about Christmas, how do you respond to this stuff, without plastering on a fake smile and lying, coz I don't think I have that in me right now?

It was great thanks, how was yours?

Quickly say it was lovely to have the break - did you ? What did you get up Tommy then let them talk

You just smile and say it was lovely thanks, how about you? Then change the subject.

No one cares what you did, just like you don’t care what they did, so a quick response and the conversation will move on

You say “Yes, fine thank you, and you?” and let them talk instead.

'Yes thanks,you?' is all that's needed surely?

Just say "it was fine thanks" and move on. I e never had an in depth conversation about it ever at work tbh

tell you what i dont like, the question "what did you get"

seems such an odd question to me

Could you just mention it was just a quiet one and not elaborate. Make it sound dull and hopefully people will go back to talking about themselves.

“Fine thanks, feels ages ago now though, how was your new year? Any resolutions?”

Not sure why you need to snarl, just say you had a good break or something. It’s just a question, would be a bit rude if they didn’t say anything at all.

^This.

Gosh, it seems ages ago now, doesn't it? Then a comment on sorting out holiday leave/who wants a coffee/isn't it great how the evenings are already a bit lighter.

Nobody is really interested, it's just chit chat.

“Loved the time off, shame about the weather. How about you?”

It's literally less than a minute of conversation. I have had a few people ask in passing and text and just say 'yes thank you' or 'it was alright thanks' with others responding similarly saying they were with family, it was busy, they were all sick and the like. Nobody is going to ask if your Great Aunt Sue attended Christmas Dinner at yours.

No one wants a long conversation about it. 'quiet one, thanks, you?' That's it.

Quick response as suggested. Perhaps you ought to think about coming into work between Christmas and New Year and having the time off at another time?

Not really... It's christmas, most people get presents... An odd question would be, "did you get any Easter eggs"...

This is a good one.