However, it can also cause stress as employees rush to complete outstanding tasks and projects to be able to actually enjoy their time off. During this stressful time, it is important for leaders to support their teams in combating the end-of-year burnout with a set of insightful tips and strategies. Read on to discover 8 festive employee wellness strategies that will transform December from a hectic month to a cheerful and enjoyable one.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner. For the 23-year-old Christmas can be a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people, chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
There is great irony in the fact that we tend to associate the winter holiday season with busyness, stress, and overwhelm. While we are rushing and doing, the natural world around us is in a completely oppositional state-resting, slowing down, cooling, hibernating, restoring itself.
Stress tolerance is a key executive function skill that relates to our ability to cope with pressure, uncertainty, and change. Stress tolerance involves being able to navigate incoming demands and manage stressful situations. For some of us, this is a significant strength, and we may find that we thrive in uncertain, novel, and changing environments. For others, atypical circumstances can be very stressful (Dawson and Guare, 2016).
As a mom of six, Christmas used to feel like a pressure cooker. Every year, I tried to create the "perfect" holiday - the ideal gifts, the matching pajamas, the Instagram-worthy stockings. I spent December weekends navigating store aisles, scrolling for deals, or stressing that I wasn't doing enough. By the time Christmas morning finally came, I was exhausted, financially stretched, and secretly relieved when it was all over.
It's mid-November, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which is great news for our taste buds. But the holiday season may also bring stress that can be hard on our stomachs, causing issues such as bloating, heartburn, or just general feelings of discomfort. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.