As we enter the holidays in the midst of COVID-19, many of us are missing the little things we look forward to celebrating. While the best thing for all of us right now is to stay at home and avoid any in-person gatherings, it doesn’t mean that the holidays are canceled.
Despite being stuck inside, you can still get into the festive spirit and keep team morale burning bright this holiday season with the following tips.
Prioritize wellbeing.
If there’s anything we’ve learned this year, it’s that we have to take care of each other. This time of year tends to be busier for everyone. You can encourage employee wellness over the holidays by consistently checking in, offering extra support, and ensuring they maintain a work-life balance by leading through example.
Send holiday cards.
Some things never get old, and a good old fashioned hand-written holiday card is one of them. Recently, we had a lot of fun preparing for this by making unique branded holiday cards through Vistaprint. If you have the time, opting for personalized messages is a great way to celebrate each employee and recognize their individual contributions.
Practice gratitude.
Now is a good time to reflect on your business’s growth and celebrate everyone who made it possible. It’s been a difficult year, but ultimately it’s made us stronger and more resilient. If like us, your employees are the driving force of your business, take the time to personally thank them for everything they do. You may also want to reach out to the extra-special customers that have stuck through it all with you too.
Surprise employees with small gifts and gestures.
During the holidays we often send customers seasonal treats and gift baskets, so why not do the same for our employees? Consider gifts that will make working from home a little bit cozier and brighter, like a nice big mug for holiday tea and coffee. Another small way we’ve been celebrating our employees is by helping them pay it forward with gift cards to local businesses of their choice.
Host virtual events and happy hours.
Bring your holiday party online this year and celebrate together via videoconference. We recently hosted our annual Dolly Awards through zoom webinar and held an afterparty using breakout rooms. You can make your virtual event feel a bit more like the real deal by screen sharing an end-of-the-year slide show to look back on together or delivering snacks and beverage kits to attendees prior to the event.
Shop + donate locally.
Get into the spirit of giving, and do so locally. Due to COVID-19, it is more important than ever to invest your time and money into your community. In addition to sourcing holiday gifts locally, we’ve been celebrating our employees’ hard work by rewarding them with gift cards of their choice to pay it forward to local businesses. If like most businesses, you already involved in the community, consider supporting your local hospital, or sponsor a local family for the holidays.
Look forward to the future.
Focusing on the future gives your team something to look forward to. Take some time to celebrate the small wins you accomplished amidst big change. Then, move forward and set your sights on where you hope to see your business in the future. Start a dialogue with your team, listen, ask questions, and clarify your goals for the new year.
Friendly reminder that if you or your employees need to take a break, slow down and reconnect, we’re here for you to provide temporary reception coverage.
For more free tips, tricks, and tools to help your business thrive, visit our resource library!