| Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa seem
to bring out the best and worst in us and often accentuate
the conflict between the “reason for the season”
and the blatant materialism of our culture. Office parties,
gift exchanges, Secret Santas, door decorating contests,
cards to vendors and referral sources add to an already
work-laden atmosphere. Stress reactions often include:
- Headaches
- Stomachaches/ GI distress
- Feelings of irritability and nervousness
- Excessive drinking and overeating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Post-holiday let-down after New Year’s
Dreading the holidays already? The following suggestions
may help:
- Start preparations for card-giving ahead of time.
Delegate the task or ask for help.
- If your company sends a gift which requires wrapping,
consider a bookstore gift certificate inserted in
the card instead.
- Pace yourself. Organize your time and “to
do” list so that the majority of preparations
are complete the week BEFORE Hanukah or Christmas.
- Communicate your needs. If you want help, ask.
Don’t become angry when people aren’t
reading your mind.
- Be aware of those in the office of other faiths.
Many personnel now say “Happy Holidays”
in lieu of naming the holiday. In some organizations,
Christians offer to cover shifts for those celebrating
Hanukkah; Jews offer to cover during the Christmas
holiday…true gestures of friendship and consideration.
- Be creative in reducing demands on yourself. Hire
a caterer to help set up office parties; use gift
certificates and mail order catalogues to save shopping
time.
- Reassess the value and importance placed on gift
giving, and focus more on gifts of love, time, patience,
understanding…which can’t be wrapped in
a box. In lieu of office gift exchanges, suggest making
a donation to a local hunger center or charity in
the name of the employees.
- Create new traditions. Ask for input from the employees
as to what traditions they would like to keep; which
they could do without. Don’t be afraid to try
something new.
Most employees are aware that companies look for ways
to trim budgets. During these financially-strapped times,
think of ways to stream-line the annual office party.
For example, if the company holds an annual dinner-dance,
this year replace the dinner with Hors‘deurves
and dancing. Or if you share a floor with other businesses,
consider having a Progressive Party with Company A holding
a light continental breakfast, Company B offering a
lunch party tray, and Company C, some after-hours pastries.
Employees would sign up for one party (to allow for
food counts ahead of time and for shift change allowances
in some organizations). If some employees have lost
a loved one this year, be aware of and sensitive to
those still grieving during this time. Let them talk
or not talk about their feelings. Let them attend office
holiday festivities or choose to skip this year.
Holiday traditions are wonderful only if they bring
peace and joy and a deepening sense of the meaning
behind them. If the season only brings headaches, tension,
fatigue, or office feuds, the time to make some
changes is “nigh.”
|
