Encouraging Healthy, Balanced & Productive Holidays

It may be the “most wonderful time of the year,” but the holidays can be hard on health and productivity. Year-end deadlines, holiday events, travel, and family obligations make it easy for business owners, family members, and employees to feel overwhelmed. Help your team members and their families with these strategies:

Encourage Balance

Often people feel torn between work responsibilities and personal commitments. Provide flexibility to help employees take care of the increased holiday personal activities so that they are not distracted at work. Consider designating an “early close” afternoon to allow employees to attend to errands or shop during business hours or allow employees to make small adjustments to their schedules or take an occasional extended break to attend to family matters. Flexibility alleviates stress and can prevent burnout, and employees who feel personally supported are more likely to return to work refreshed and committed to their work responsibilities.

Encourage Physical Health

With food, parties, long days traveling, late nights shopping, and close social gatherings, the holidays have many opportunities to overdo and overindulge while skimping on sleep, exercise and personal health. It’s no surprise that many people welcome the new year heavier, grumpier, and nursing an illness! Make wellness easier with healthy snacks at work. Organize fun, daily fitness challenges and encourage employees to take short walks (how about a walking meeting?) or stretch breaks. Post reminders about healthy habits like sleep and hydration and ensure company gatherings include healthy and non-alcoholic options.

Encourage Mental Well-being

Sometimes the holidays bring feelings of stress, loneliness, or anxiety. Post reminders about Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or mental health resources. Encourage short work breaks to recharge, complete a mindfulness exercise, or share a funny story with a colleague to help employees relax, recenter, and improve their perspective. Create opportunities for gratitude —such as a Thankfulness Board where employees can post notes about the things for which they are grateful (either at the company or personally) or a canned food drive. Intentional gratitude can help boost morale and reduce stress.

Encourage Clear, Realistic Expectations

Set realistic expectations about work priorities. During the holidays, employees often juggle multiple work projects with increased personal expectations. Setting clear and achievable goals for the holiday period helps employees stay focused and prevents stress. Regular check-ins can help ensure team members feel supported and connected.

By encouraging balance, health, and realistic expectations businesses can help employees stay healthy and productive during the season.

Happy Holidays!

-Leslie and the THA team

Originally posted in the Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina Newsletter.