Workplace Wellness During the Holiday Season: Tips for a Healthier End of Year

As the holiday season approaches, many of us eagerly look forward to time spent with family, festive meals, and maybe a well-deserved break from the daily grind. However, for many employees, the holiday season can also bring stress, long hours, and a pressure to perform during a busy and chaotic time at work. Whether you’re managing a team or working as part of one, it’s important to prioritize wellness during this time of year so the season can remain joyful and productive.

We’ve pulled together a few of our top strategies for supporting wellness at work during the holidays, in hopes of helping you to better support your employees this time of year.

1. Recognize the Impact of Holiday Stress: The holidays can trigger a variety of stressors like tight deadlines, increased workload, travel plans, and the pressure to “finish strong” before the year ends. It’s easy for employees to feel overwhelmed or burnt out during this time. Acknowledging this is the first step in creating a supportive work environment. Start by openly acknowledging the holiday season’s unique stressors in team meetings or through internal communications. Encourage employees to be open about their needs and concerns, and offer flexible solutions where possible.

2. Encourage Flexible Work Hours and Time Off: With increased holiday activities, family gatherings, and travel, employees may struggle to juggle personal commitments with work obligations. Providing flexibility in work hours, remote work options, or allowing employees to take time off can reduce stress and give them the space they need to recharge. Consider offering a "holiday flex week," where employees can adjust their schedules to meet personal obligations, or introduce "half-day Fridays" leading up to the holidays. This can help employees manage their time more effectively and reduce the holiday crunch.

3. Promote Healthy Eating and Movement: During the holidays, tempting treats and rich meals are abundant. Combine this with long hours at the office, and it’s easy for employees to neglect their physical health. Encouraging healthy eating habits and physical activity can help combat the sedentary behavior that often comes with the season. Consider providing some healthier snack options in the workplace, and encourage employees to take short breaks to stretch or walk. You can also host a "healthy holiday recipe swap" to help everyone find nutritious alternatives to their favorite seasonal dishes.

4. Set Realistic Expectations and Manage Workloads: End-of-year pressure can create unrealistic expectations for many employees, leading to burnout and fatigue. Instead of setting lofty goals that could overwhelm your team, focus on realistic objectives and prioritize key tasks. Encouraging employees to delegate when possible or streamline workflows can help reduce the pressure. For managers, it’s crucial to check in with team members regularly and assess their workload to ensure no one is overburdened. Focus on quality over quantity.

5. Focus on Connection and Gratitude: The holiday season is a time for giving, and while this can often mean gift exchanges, it also provides an opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude. We already know how strong social connections at work are associated with lower stress levels and higher job satisfaction, so think about hosting low-key (virtual or in-person) holiday events such as a holiday happy hour or a team lunch. Encourage employees to share something they’re grateful for in the workplace or outside of work. Publicly recognizing employees’ hard work and contributions can go a long way in boosting morale.

6. Mental Health Support: While a joyful time of year for most, the holiday season can no doubt also bring up feelings of loneliness, grief, or anxiety, which can take a toll on mental health. Offering resources and support for mental well-being is especially important during this time. Ensure employees have access to mental health resources, such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), counseling services, or wellness apps. Providing workshops on managing holiday stress or balancing work-life pressures can also support mental well-being during the holiday season.

7. Lead by Example: As a manager or team leader, your behavior and attitude set the tone for the entire team. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, your team is likely to pick up on those signals. Prioritize your own well-being and encourage your team to do the same. Demonstrate healthy work habits by taking breaks, setting boundaries, and acknowledging the importance of work-life balance. When you lead by example, you set a precedent for others to follow.

8. Create an Inclusive Holiday Environment: Not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and some employees may have different cultural or religious practices. It’s important to create an inclusive workplace that respects and celebrates this diversity. Offer flexible holiday observances and create a workplace environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their traditions and customs. Host a holiday potluck where everyone can contribute dishes from their cultural heritage, or encourage diversity in holiday decorations to reflect the different celebrations of your team members.

9. Plan for the Post-Holiday Transition: The return to work after the holiday season can be jarring. Employees may feel overwhelmed with a backlog of emails and tasks, leading to stress and anxiety. Having a plan for a smooth post-holiday transition is crucial for maintaining wellness throughout January. Consider easing employees back into work with a light workload in the first week of the year, allowing them time to reorient themselves. A “back-to-work” checklist with manageable tasks can help everyone get back on track without feeling too overwhelmed.

10. Have Fun!: While the holiday season presents unique challenges, it also offers an opportunity for a little extra fun to be weaved into the workplace. A relaxed, joyful atmosphere will help everyone (you included!) stress less, be more productive, and enjoy the true meaning behind the season a bit more!

However you decide to incorporate the holidays into your company’s environment, remember this is a time for organizations to build a culture of wellness that lasts beyond December. By promoting flexibility, mental health support, healthy habits, and a culture of gratitude (and maybe a little fun), you create an environment where employees feel valued and cared for—something that will benefit both their personal well-being and your business in the long run. This holiday season, we hope you take the time to focus on workplace wellness. With the right support and strategies in place, employees will be able to end the year on a high note, refreshed and ready for whatever the new year brings.