Key Takeaways
Practical ways companies can support employee well‑being during the holiday rush — from providing stress‑relief tools to hosting pre-holiday wellness workshops.
How to reduce end-of-year burnout by setting realistic goals, redistributing workload, and encouraging open communication about capacity.
Suggestions for building a more inclusive and appreciative workplace: inclusive celebrations, gratitude initiatives, flexible bonuses, and forward-looking wellness programming
The holiday season is often a mixed blessing in the workplace. While employees may look forward to celebrations and time off, the season often comes with added stress from deadlines, personal obligations, and financial pressures. For employers, this time of year is an opportunity to support their teams in balancing these demands, creating a more positive and productive environment. Here’s how organizations like yours can strike a balance between meeting business needs while simultaneously prioritizing employee wellness during the holidays.
8 Tips for Balancing Holiday Pressures With Stress Management
With these unique approaches, your organization can cater to different aspects of employee well-being and provide the right support they need during the holiday season.
1. Celebrate Inclusively
The holidays mean different things to different people. Some observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the Winter Solstice, while others may choose not to celebrate any holidays. It’s important to acknowledge and honor the diversity within your team by hosting inclusive events or offering a range of celebratory options — studies show inclusivity can make employees 35% more productive.
For example, instead of focusing on one specific holiday, consider organizing a winter-themed event or a “Season of Giving” initiative. This way, everyone feels valued and included, regardless of their cultural or religious background. Additionally, create opportunities for employees to share their traditions with the team to foster mutual understanding and respect.
2. Provide Tools for Stress Relief
Small gestures can have a big impact, especially during the holiday season, when stress levels tend to rise. Providing employees with practical stress-management resources can help them navigate the holiday hustle. Consider offering mindfulness sessions, either in-person or virtually, to teach techniques for staying present and calm. Distribute free subscriptions to relaxation or meditation apps, such as Calm or Headspace, which employees can use at their convenience.
Additionally, share simple tips for self-care, such as staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and taking regular breaks during the workday. You can also provide access to wellness programs that incorporate yoga classes, stretching exercises, or guided breathing techniques. For an extra touch, consider creating “stress-relief kits” with items like herbal teas, stress balls, or aromatherapy candles that employees can use at home. Encouraging a culture of self-care and well-being not only helps employees stay balanced and focused throughout the holiday season, but also shows them that your organization genuinely cares about their mental health.
3. Address Holiday Fatigue Early
As the holiday season approaches, it’s important to recognize that burnout and fatigue can peak due to the increased demands of both personal and professional responsibilities. In fact, 79% of people neglect their health during the holiday season and find it more stressful than tax time. And more than 51% report that it takes them weeks to recover and they feel less stressed after the holidays.
Addressing this issue proactively can make a significant difference in employee well-being and productivity. Host a pre-holiday wellness workshop or seminar to keep employees energized. Sessions can cover topics such as time management, prioritizing tasks, setting boundaries, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. You might also include discussions about recognizing early signs of burnout and tips for avoiding it.
Consider bringing in wellness experts, such as stress management coaches, nutritionists, or fitness instructors, to provide actionable advice and tools. You can also provide resources like printable guides, checklists, or access to recordings of the seminar for later reference.
Beyond workshops, encourage managers to have open conversations with their teams about workload expectations and personal needs during the holiday season. Small adjustments, such as redistributing tasks or offering additional support, can go a long way in preventing fatigue and ensuring everyone feels supported. Essentially, by addressing holiday fatigue early, you foster a healthier, more resilient workforce that’s better equipped to handle the season’s challenges with confidence and energy.
4. Show Gratitude
The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to express genuine appreciation for your team’s hard work and dedication throughout the year. Gratitude doesn’t just boost morale — it also strengthens trust, fosters a sense of belonging, and reinforces a positive workplace culture.
Public recognition is just one of the many ways you can celebrate achievements and employee contributions to create a sense of pride. Whether you do so via team meetings, newsletters, company-wide events, or peer-to-peer recognition platforms, it can make employees feel seen and valued. It’s also wise to encourage team members to show gratitude toward one another, fostering a culture of mutual appreciation.
For a more personalized touch, tailored thank-you notes can have a powerful impact. Or if
your budget allows, small gifts can also be a meaningful gesture. These don’t have to be extravagant — a gift card, a curated wellness kit, or even branded company swag can work.
Finally, consider pairing your gestures of gratitude with actionable benefits, such as an extra day of paid time off, hosting a team celebration, or ordering lunch for everyone. With these strategies you’ll be able to create an atmosphere of goodwill and respect, leaving your team energized and motivated for the year ahead.
5. Reduce End-of-Year Pressure
As the year comes to a close, it’s common for businesses to push for results before year-end, but this added pressure can easily overwhelm employees. The desire to meet quarterly goals, finalize projects, or close last-minute sales often results in tight deadlines and a sense of urgency that can negatively impact morale. While achieving business objectives is important, it’s equally crucial to manage expectations and maintain employee well-being during this time.
To reduce unnecessary stress, set realistic and achievable goals that are aligned with both the company’s objectives and the current capacity of your team. Encourage open communication with employees about workload expectations, and adjust timelines or deliverables where necessary to avoid overburdening your teams. It’s important to remember that quality often trumps quantity — pushing for unrealistic results may lead to rushed work and lower performance overall.
One way to manage this is by prioritizing tasks, breaking down larger projects into smaller, manageable chunks, and being transparent about what’s most critical to the organization’s success. It’s also helpful to identify areas where support can be provided, whether through temporary assistance, extending deadlines, or reallocating resources.
Additionally, encourage employees to speak up if they feel overwhelmed, and ensure that leaders are approachable and ready to help with adjustments when needed. By fostering a supportive environment that recognizes the pressures of the season, you can help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance while still achieving necessary business goals.
Incorporating these strategies into your end-of-year approach will not only prevent burnout but will also show your employees that their well-being is just as important as hitting targets. A balanced, thoughtful approach ensures that your team finishes the year strong without sacrificing their health or motivation.
6. Offer a Flexible Holiday Bonus
Instead of a one-size-fits-all holiday bonus, think about how you can contribute to your employees’ holiday expenses or make a charitable donation in their name to a cause they care about. Many employees find fulfillment in giving back during the holiday season, and providing this option can cultivate a sense of purpose and goodwill within the organization.
You might also allow employees to choose their preferred bonus, allowing them to pick what resonates with them most, which also demonstrates that you value their individuality. Either way, a bonus is a thoughtful way to express appreciation while supporting their well-being and encouraging a sense of fulfillment both in and outside of work.
7. Plan for Next Year
The holiday season is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the past year and gather insights that can shape your approach to employee wellness moving forward. Be sure to take time to assess what worked well, what didn’t, and how employees felt about the support they received. Doing so can provide crucial data for improving wellness strategies in the future.
Start by seeking feedback from employees through surveys, one-on-one meetings, or informal conversations, and take note of any challenges or successes that your organization experienced over the holiday season. Did employees feel overly pressured by deadlines? Were the stress-relief resources effective in helping them manage their well-being? Was the recognition program meaningful and appreciated? These insights will inform your planning for next year, identify gaps in your current approach, and enable you to refine your strategies to better meet the needs of your team. Whether it’s introducing new wellness programs, adjusting workload expectations, or offering more flexible scheduling options, your ability to adapt and implement changes based on feedback will lead to a more positive, supportive, and stress-free work environment.
8. Introduce a Wellness Program
If you haven’t already invited employees to participate in a wellness program, now is the perfect time to do so because it can strengthen the overall health and success of your organization. A well-designed wellness program can offer resources like stress management workshops, fitness challenges, or mental health support, so employees can navigate the season’s demands and feel happier in the workplace in the long run.
During the holidays, employees often face heightened pressures that affect both their physical and mental well-being. However, well-designed wellness programs usually offer a variety of resources tailored to employee needs, such as stress management workshops, fitness challenges, mental health support, and nutrition counseling that can help manage stress so they stay energized and maintain balance.
For example, hosting virtual or in-person stress management workshops can provide employees with practical tools for coping with the demands of the season, including techniques for relaxation, mindfulness, and time management. Offering fitness challenges, such as step or exercise goals, can encourage physical activity, which has been shown to improve mood.
In addition to these physical and stress-relief options, ensure that mental health resources are easily accessible. This could include simple actions like providing access to counseling services or creating mental health awareness campaigns.
Creating a Stress-Free Holiday Season
This holiday season, be sure to show your employees that their well-being matters. Taking a thoughtful approach to the holiday season not only creates a more harmonious and productive atmosphere, but also sets the stage for a successful year ahead.
If you’re ready to start the new year off right, begin by focusing on wellness and balance.
CoreHealth can help your employees navigate the demands and stresses of the season with greater ease and resilience.
Learn more about wellness programs with these articles from the Corehealth blog:
Stress Awareness Day: How Companies Can Prioritize Employee Mental Health
Are Corporate Wellness Programs Worth It? Cost vs. Benefit Analysis
