Want to End on a High Note? Support Your Team’s Mental Health Ahead of the Holidays

The final stretch of the year can be hectic: deadlines loom, inboxes overflow, and everyone is racing to wrap things up before the holidays. Add a packed social calendar, financial pressures, and the general pace of the season, and it’s no surprise stress levels climb quickly.

While it’s tempting to push through and hope everyone holds on until the break, the most effective leaders take a different approach. Supporting your team now helps them finish strong — and return in January with the clarity and energy your business needs to thrive.

How to support your team's mental health over the holidays:

Help manage workloads

Overloading December only leads to exhaustion and mistakes by your team. Before enforcing end-of-year deadlines, pause and ask: Does this really need to be done this year?

We've seen Bosses load up their team and make unrealistic demands just so they can feel assured that while they are out of the office, sending goodwill messages to clients, their business unit will meet the project budget for the month. Your team who witness that behaviour will remember it when next year comes around, and they are likely to be less engaged for you.

Prioritise essential tasks and delay non-urgent projects until January. Build breathing space into your team's calendar, leaving realistic gaps between deadlines. Communicate new work cut-off dates clearly to avoid last-minute scrambles and protect your team’s capacity. Be available to your team and clear with them, about when you will and won't be available.

Acknowledge your team’s hard work

Recognition boosts morale, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. A simple thank-you in a team meeting, a handwritten note, or allowing an early finish on a Friday can make people feel valued. When people feel seen and appreciated, they carry that positivity into the break — and back into the new year.

Downtime can be a time for reflection, not just for you, but for your team. If you send them away on break, feeling stressed or undervalued, it may have detrimental consequences should they decide to find another employer.

Normalise asking for help

Create an environment for your team where it’s safe to admit when things feel overwhelming. You can encourage this by:

• Checking in regularly, both formally and casually

• Leading by example — if you expect your team to take breaks, take them yourself

• Promoting available support such as wellbeing services, EAP information, or links to helpful resources

If you notice someone struggling, gently guide them toward your Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or other professional support options. These services are often more cost-effective than recruiting for a new team member.

Try a digital detox

Encourage your team to truly switch off over the holidays: no emails, phone calls, or constant notifications. A proper break helps reset energy levels, and a rested team returns with sharper focus, higher motivation, and renewed creativity.

Supporting your team’s mental wellbeing isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a smart business decision. When your people are balanced, your business performance follows.

Planning for the New Year

If you’d like help strengthening workplace culture or planning for a smoother year-end period, contact us for practical guidance.