“The holidays shouldn’t be a time to recharge. They should be a time to celebrate.
If work is exhausting people to the point they’re using their time off to recover, you might have a burnout culture.
A healthy organization doesn’t leave people drained in the first place.”
-Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist
This post by Adam Grant sparked the proverbial holiday lights for us at TRG and how we can navigate the holidays with a supportive company culture.
While the post was a bit controversial, it’s important to keep in mind your company culture and self-care as the year wraps up. It can be a stressful time for a number of reasons: end-of-the-year push for deliverables and budget, preparing for the holidays, thinking about the upcoming Q1 launch, and still navigating the pandemic and other stressors. With the holidays in play, it can be a time for recharging for some, but it also should be a time of celebration (Check out our blog on creating a more inclusive workplace during the holidays). Below are some questions to reflect on as you finish out the year to ensure you and your team do not become overwhelmed or experience burnout.
How are you and your co-workers using your time off?
You may have heard or even said, “I need a vacation from my vacation.” This can be especially true during the end of the year because many people attend festivities, host parties, shop, decorate, or do many different things on their days off. It can be exhausting to stay on top of work priorities and meet deadlines before the end of the year. Even though we may have off for holidays or taking PTO, these days are far from relaxing for many.
A supportive and inclusive culture at work can mitigate the risk of burnout. It takes grace and empathy to understand everyone has a lot on their plate. Allowing for space for people to navigate this time can avoid feelings of burnout.
Can you and your team take time for yourself and themself?
When you’re busy, self-care becomes even more critical. If you have time off during the upcoming weeks, be intentional about how you are using it to prioritize self-care. Are you doing something to numb yourself or nurture yourself? For example, are you turning on Netflix and escaping reality through a movie during your downtime, or are you scarfing down a treat without enjoying it? Doing these things at the moment may feel good, but you may just be numbing yourself rather than sustaining a nurturing mindset that prevents burnout.
Instead, take a moment to journal or read a book you’ve been meaning to get to this year (or ever!). Even 30 minutes of downtime can be rewarding and nurturing to yourself. Encourage your team to do the same. Ask yourself what’s important to do during the last few weeks of the year. What do you need to accomplish? What can wait? Be clear with your priorities and stay focused on what matters the most. But most of all, make sure you have time for yourself that’s nurtures you and your mind.
What brings you joy?
Have you ever taken time to think about what brings you joy? This could be a nostalgic memory or an activity you enjoy doing. What’s a song that sparks joy within the first few notes? What’s your favorite holiday memory or tradition? Even just thinking about what brings you joy can completely change your mood.
At TRG, we sometimes start a meeting with everyone sharing what brings each of us joy. Within minutes we’re smiling and in a better headspace. It also may ignite the urge to find more joy during this time.
As Adam Grant said, this is a time to celebrate. Whether the coming weeks bring joy and celebration, busy days juggling kids off from school, family events, or simply a couple of days off from work, being intentional about self-care does not have to be a heavy lift. Even though we all can be busy and maybe reaching the end-of-the-year burnout, having agency of what you can control will help you navigate the end-of-the-year push.
