The Christmas season gives us the precious opportunity to experience unforgettable moments with our loved ones and look forward to the festive celebrations. Often, however, it can be difficult to stay productive in the midst of all the festivities. By the end of the year, one is exhausted and can hardly wait to take some time off around Christmas and New Year’s to recharge one’s batteries.
In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks that can help you stay productive during this reflective time and continue to motivate your employees.
Let’s start with the employees.
How can you support your employees in keeping their motivation high until their well-deserved break at the end of the year?
These tips can help improve the mood before Christmas.
Create a contemplative atmosphere:
Advent time should be a time of peace and contemplation. Often, however, this mindfulness gets lost in the hectic pre-Christmas season. You should support your employees in getting into the Christmas spirit by, for example, providing cookie trays in the office or introducing a joint team advent calendar. Little surprises on desks on St. Nicholas’ Day or after Advent Sundays put a smile on the faces of employees and motivate them.
Emphasize successes:
Instead of complaining at the end of the year about all the things still to be done, the successes that the team achieved together in the past year should be appreciated. You should use the Christmas party or a Christmas dinner to express your thanks and give an outlook on the coming year. This appreciation allows motivation to flourish again. The employees will understand that the work pays off.
Flexibility and Work-Life Balance:
The Christmas season is a time when many employees have personal commitments. One should show understanding and offer flexible working hours or the possibility of working from home. This allows them to better balance their work and personal obligations. When employees can structure their days freely, they will also be more relaxed at work and not think about their personal to-do lists during meetings. The option to work remotely is also popular. A good work-life balance can increase motivation and productivity, as the newly gained time can be used immediately.
Planning, Clear Priorities, and Support:
One should ensure clear expectations and goals are set for the Christmas season. This should be communicated clearly to the employees and planned with them on how work can be organized during this time. It is best to set clear priorities so that employees can focus on the most important tasks. Always remember to offer support. Clear planning and communication can help avoid misunderstandings and facilitate more efficient work.
Team Activities:
Organizing team activities or celebrations to strengthen team spirit during the Christmas season can promote motivation, team cohesion, and productivity. However, it is important that these activities do not take up too much time and do not interfere with work.
Enjoy Christmas Vacation Without Guilt:
To avoid these tensions, it is advisable to handle vacation requests fairly and show employees that their desire for time off between the years is respected. Moreover, one can be generous and give employees half or full days off. Christmas Eve (December 24th) and New Year’s Eve (December 31st) are increasingly seen as special vacation days on which employees can take time off without having to request additional vacation time.
Now how do you deal with the pre-Christmas period and the end-of-year blues?
How can you master your everyday life, with all the to-dos during Advent? This is how to get through the contemplative time in a relaxed way.
Setting priorities:
During the Christmas season, there are often many things to do. It is important to set clear priorities and create a to-do list to keep track of your tasks. Consider which tasks are truly important and place them at the top of your list.
Time management:
Carefully plan your time to ensure that you have enough time for your tasks. This ensures that there is enough time for work, as well as relaxation and time with family. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique can help you focus on your tasks and work more efficiently.
Delegation:
It’s okay to ask for help! During the Christmas season, it’s important not to have to do everything alone. Sharing tasks with your family or friends helps to get the work done faster and more efficiently. Sharing tasks also allows you to spend more time with loved ones and enjoy the festivities.
Avoiding distractions:
Christmas can be a time when there are many distractions, whether it’s through social media, television, or the constant ringing of the phone. One should try to stay away from these distractions, for example, by putting the phone on silent or setting a specific time to focus on work.
Taking breaks:
Although it is important to be productive, it is also important to take breaks. Scheduling regular breaks helps to relax and recharge. During this time, one can have a cup of tea, take a walk in the fresh air, or simply relax.
The Christmas season can be a challenging time to maintain productivity. By promoting clear communication, clear priorities, and organization, one can help employees stay productive during this time. It is important to promote a healthy work-life balance and show employees that their efforts are appreciated. Furthermore, it is important to set priorities for oneself. Good time management, delegating tasks, avoiding distractions, and taking regular breaks to relax and recharge. By following these tips, one can contribute to making the Christmas season productive and enjoyable for everyone involved.
We at Bontique wish everyone a pleasant and productive end-of-year season.
