The end of the year is fast approaching. This year has absolutely flown past. In fact, as we get older, time speeds up. Can you remember being a kid, and the years seemed to stretch forever? Fast forward a few decades, and we’re busy adults juggling careers, kids and life, and time just zips by.

The end of the year always means a celebration, especially on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is the biggest party of the year for most people and is often a chance for otherwise responsible people to cut loose and let their hair down. But planning the big night can be a touch stressful, especially if you’re the type who likes to have your life organised neatly. This helpful article will share a stress-free guide to planning NYE celebrations. It will help to assist you in preparing, to relieve some pressure. Read on to find out more.

Book Your Dinner Spot Early

Now is the time to book your New Year’s Eve dinner in Melbourne. If you leave until December, you’ll find that most popular restaurants will be fully booked out. By booking in November, you’re getting ahead of the crowd, and you should be guaranteed a table at most places. Dinner is often the night’s first stop, so you’ll want to eat somewhere nice. Check-in with your group and pick a place to cater to everyone’s dietary preferences and tastebuds.

Plan a Bar Hop

The next step in planning your big night is picking a few different bars you can hop between. You should get your map app out, plot the distance between them, and choose watering holes within walking distance of each other. This is because taxis and rideshare cars are notoriously difficult to find on New Year’s Eve, as everyone is trying to hustle from A to B. If you can enjoy a leisurely walk between bars, the fresh air and exercise will do you good.

You may also want to plan what type of bars you want to visit, depending on your and your friend’s tastes. For instance, did you want to pop into some classy cocktail bars, or are dive bars more your scene?

Get Up in the Club

After a few bar visits, you’re ready to cut some shapes on the dancefloor.

Being in a nightclub is exciting when the midnight countdown starts, and the place will explode when the new year ticks over. The club you pick will depend on your group’s tastes in music. Most major cities will have a range of nightclubs to cater to different preferences – from techno to house, hip hop and everything in between. Spend some time before the big night planning which club you’ll go to between your group, to avoid an argument and indecision on the big night. Then, it’s time to cut loose and dance.

Pick Someone’s Place for Kick Ons

The next step after you leave the club is to pick someone’s place for the after-party or kick-ons. Depending on your age and the life situation of your friends, this may be tricky. For instance, those with kids at home are out, or those sharing a house with others who may be asleep in the wee hours of the morning. If someone has a free place – perfect. By this time of night, finding a taxi or rideshare should be easier, so jump in and head to the after-party.

Get Some Sleep

Although NYE is an exciting time and your energy levels will be in the stratosphere, try and get some sleep after kick-ons. Even a few hours is better than nothing, as your body and mind need sleep to restore and recharge after the big night. Even if it means crashing out on a friend’s couch, try to catch some Z’s.

Beating the Hangover

Another part of planning your NYE celebrations is to try to avoid a hangover. While millions of people around the world wake up on New Year’s Day with a throbbing headache and dry mouth, you don’t have to be one of them. There are a few tips you can follow here. One is to make sure that you drink on a full stomach. As you’ve planned a dinner, this should be fine. You might even want to consider a midnight snack – who doesn’t love a kebab after some drinks?

The next hangover-avoiding tip is to stay hydrated. Most hangovers are caused due to alcohol’s dehydrating effects, so staying hydrated with water is a great way to dodge the morning-after pain.

A Celebratory Conclusion

This helpful article has shared a stress-free guide to planning your NYE celebrations. We’ve covered everything from booking the restaurant for a meal to the bar crawl and hitting the club. Follow these steps on your evening, and you’ll breeze through without a care in the world – apart from ensuring you have an excellent time.

Jennifer Albert