We’ve all been there (or at least I have). You’re on your fifth or sixth glass of mulled wine when someone suggests that you kick off the karaoke part of the evening. Emboldened by little more than wine and festive cheer, you decide that not only can you sing Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You, but that you can do it far better than she ever could.

As the night turns into the wee hours of the morning, you are encouraged by your equally drunk work wife to round off the occasion with the most slurred version of I Will Survive the world has ever seen. When you finally tumble into bed, you are happily oblivious to the shame that will envelope you for the remainder of the weekend.

Of course, I can’t stop you from giving the best imitation of Gloria Gaynor that the universe has ever seen, but I can make the embarrassment factor a little better by suggesting a few things that will make your night a little more risk-free.

You may have been eyeing Horace from accounting for a few good months but the office party is hardly the time or the place to profess your love

Avoid wearing a short dress or skirt: There’s a time and a place for everything; God knows I’m all for wearing whatever you want whenever you want. However, with all that said, if you know that you’re going to be partying in a professional environment, the best thing to do is make sure your hemline is a little more demure than you might usually go for. I’ve had past colleagues dress like they were on their way to a particularly raucous night in Paceville only to flash their nether regions to half the room when they’ve had their fair share of tipple. When it comes to what is appropriate, the world is not always your oyster (or your gynaecologist).

Avoid wearing really high heels: It should go without saying but if you know that you’re going to spend a long night on your feet, don’t wear skyscraper heels. Even if you feel like starting the night sashaying around the room like a long, limber Victoria’s Secret model, by the end of the evening you’ll be more guttersnipe than glitterata once the pain kicks in and you realise that if you don’t take off your shoes, they may have to amputate your feet. Save yourself the embarrassment of walking around like something out of Oliver Twist at the end of the night and wear shorter heels.

Avoid flirting with your co-workers: You may have been eyeing Horace from accounting for a few good months but the office party is hardly the time or the place to profess your undying love for his brilliant use of the calculator. Apart from the fact that most offices don’t encourage in-house coupling, I think that we can all agree that people have rarely made sound decisions when they have a few drinks in them. What’s more, should things go to pot, you’re still going to have face Horace on Monday morning. Save yourself the trouble and if you see that you’re getting out of hand, take yourself home. Your dignity (and your boss) will thank you.