Table of Contents

1. Flexible hours leading up to the holidays
2. Offer remote work when applicable
3. Consistent team check-ins
4. Encourage mental health wellness
5. Set realistic expectations

The holidays are around the corner. A time for cheer, holiday parties, gift-giving, and more. However, for some of your employees, the holidays may be filled with anxiety.

In an article published by the American Management Association (AMA) they wrote, “According to experts, more people become depressed or anxious during the holidays than any other time of year. Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities, disappointed by unrealistic expectations, and worried about money are some of the chief symptoms of the holiday blues.”

How can you help those stressed-out employees gain a sense of calm?
Here are 5 timely tips to help alleviate their holiday strain so they feel appreciated and supported:

1. Flexible hours leading up to the holidays

If employees are anxious about finding time to take care of holiday details (before family arrives), giving them a day off helps them with prep time, taking some stress off their shoulders.

2. Offer remote work when applicable

If your employees aren’t already working remotely, give them the option to do so one or two days a week. This gives them the opportunity to get their work done, but not have to get ready and commute to an office.

3. Consistent team check-ins

If you’re not already doing this, the holidays are a good time to start. A regular one-on-one conversation allows you to ask how they’re handling any holiday stress – be it personal or professional. It also builds trust and allows them to voice any concerns they have or challenges they’re facing. Sometimes all a person needs is someone to be a good listener and hear them out.

4. Encourage mental health wellness

Give employees break times that are long enough for them to get outside and walk, do yoga, work out, meditate, or even run a holiday-related errand. If you’re planning on giving your team a gift this year, consider a subscription to a mental health app like Headspace, or asking them what would help them relax and gift them that.

5. Set realistic expectations

As the end of the year approaches, it’s a good time to review any outstanding projects and consider re-prioritizing them. Be realistic about what your employees can achieve given the end-of-the-year crunch. Do they really need to complete every single project that was on their to-do lists? Review any outstanding projects and determine if they can be revisited and addressed after the first of the year. If so, you may hear a surprising sigh of relief – and appreciation – from your team.