Most people creep into January saddled with guilt about the excess enjoyed at the end of the last year and full of promises to overturn bad habits and vows of self-improvement. Whether this is losing the mince pie and Prosecco weight or living frugally to off-set festive spending, we tend to treat January as a bleak month of reform.
January even contains ‘Blue Monday’, the most depressing day due to the length of time that has passed since the last pay day and the date when Christmas credit card bills arrive. Combined with the cold weather, limited daylight and the likelihood that most people have given up on their New Year’s resolutions, Blue Monday is supposedly the lowest point of the year.
But should we write January off as a miserable month?
Actually, it’s so important not to. While it can sometimes be indulgent to wallow in melancholy, by writing off one twelfth of the year as grey, frugal and boring, we can miss out on opportunities and set a the tone for the rest of the year.
As business owners, it is important to ensure that the office spirit remains buoyant post-Christmas and support workers to look after their mental health, through this time – after all, health and wellbeing has a direct impact on everyone’s happiness and performance.
Expect to receive holiday requests
In reaction to the cold, dark days (you can read all about how this affects our mood here, we tend to reach for holiday brochures, so expect an influx of people returning from their festive break ready to book annual leave. Encourage colleagues to plan to take their holiday across the year so they can benefit from regular breaks.
Support self-improvement
The New Year is a great time to learn something new. Listen to whether your employees are keen to progress or enhance their skill-set and discuss training and development opportunities bespoke to their needs. Alternatively, if they are looking to do something outside of work, such as language classes or learning a musical instrument, it is important to be mindful of any commitments they may have outside of work and encourage them to leave on time.
Encourage positivity
It can be dreary to return to work after a break and come back to all the looming deadlines and meetings that seemed so far away pre-Christmas but there are a few ways to create a happier workplace . To start, review your employee benefits packages, where you can bring some cheer.
Consider introducing some new and exciting ways to reward your staff, including developing an employee of the month scheme or introducing a corporate massage service to give colleagues a little time to themselves.
To find out more about the corporate wellbeing services we offer, email the team now at hello@moaningcow.co.uk or call 020 7129 7310.
Photo by Lidya Nada on Unsplash