December is the best time of year for free trials. Get on it.

December: it’s the month where despite taking annual leave, you can never find a free moment.

There are office parties, friends’ parties, partner’s parties, and don’t even get me started on that bearded bloke dodging solar panels on your roof.

December can seem like an impossible time to fit in something new, but that’s why it’s the best time to do so. I’ve got two words to say to you, reader: free trials.

via GIPHY

Free trials are abundant in December because people are generally too busy to take up their regular recreational activities.

The local yogis piss off to Bali for spiritual retreats, the surfers leave their tourist-laden shores for coastal solitude and you — you, my sweet reader — are given the golden opportunity to be shit at hobbies you may have been too intimidated to try during busy times.

Bliss.

I recently downloaded a free trial of Stan for the “rejuvenation time” that follows every major social event. Cost: Zilch.

Listen to Laura and Jess debate the best and worst TV shows of 2016 on The Binge.

I downloaded a free trial of Spotify Premium to blast Mariah Carey on repeat without ads. Cost: Nada.

I bought a silly food box at a discounted price and then re-gifted it. Cost: $35 and some self-esteem.

Want to fix up that high school French? Take advantage of Christmas deals at your local tuition school.

Want to fix up your contouring game? Buy a discounted make-up class during Boxing Day sales.

Want to fix up your recently dumped heart? Buy a bottle of red and give me a call.

There are an unlimited amount of possible activities that you can harness during this busy time.

Christmas is about showing people how much you love them. But, like every good self-help book writer knows, you can only love others once you love yourself first.