Q: Our small company has made great strides this year toward improving our work/life balance. One of my staff lost a ton of weight, another quit smoking and we’ve had workshops about stress management. What can we do to avoid taking “two-steps-back” during the holidays?
A: Yes, the holiday season! If anyone had set out to design a five-week period during which most of our stress buttons and human weaknesses were exposed, they couldn’t have come up with anything more perfect than the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The temptation to overindulge in food, sweets and alcohol along with the pressure to shop, donate and consume, make a powerful mix. But when you add crowded holiday travel, visiting relatives, and whatever childhood mental-health baggage we still carry, it becomes an overwhelming concoction. And I almost forgot to mention the gloomy, cold weather and fewer hours of sunlight. Yikes. Here are some suggestions for maintaining your workplace balanced during the season:
Cut Each Other Slack – We are on overload this time of year; shopping after work, cooking, decorating our place, and wrapping gifts past our bedtime. We may oversleep, tackle bad traffic and be running a little late. Be flexible and considerate.
Reduce Food Portions – It’s much better to have a couple of rum balls, than to eat a whole slice of cheesecake. As a group, agree that potlucks will include bite-sized portions, this allows room to sample everyone’s favorite dish.
Try Chair Massage – Arrange for a massage therapist to come and offer 15-minute sessions in an empty conference room. Whether paid by the company or the employee, those 15 minutes can be the treasured highlight of an otherwise grueling day.
Encourage Music and Song– You’d be surprised at the hidden musical talent in your average workplace. Urge people to organize a group to sing carols, or play an instrument during a potluck. It’s a very forgiving setting, people have fun, get silly and everyone can join the familiar tunes.
These are only ideas to start a conversation. Try asking employees directly what would make their life more balanced during the holidays. What to share you ideas? Write me.
© Copyright Eva Del Rio
