‘Tis the season!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to spend your days off celebrating the holidays with friends and family. While this is the norm for many workers, not everyone gets to take time off during the holidays – especially those with hospitality industry jobs. In fact, the holidays are the busiest time of year for us.

As the saying goes, we work while everyone else is on vacation. As travelers are flocking to hotels, restaurants, and popular destinations for some much-needed R&R at the end of the year, hospitality workers face the stress of demanding guests while working longer hours than ever. All of this can contribute to burnout. But there is a way to avoid feeling like this.

Whether you’re an employee or the employer, here are a few ways you can stop the holiday burnout from reaching you this season:

Tips for Employees to Beat Holiday Burnout

Stay Organized

Feeling overwhelmed? Jot down and keep track of all your tasks using a calendar or planner. This makes it easier for you to see everything that needs to be done. Sure, you can keep track of all your to-dos in your head, but that will likely contribute more to your stress. Pro-tip: Arrange your tasks based on importance and urgency. Then check each item off as you complete them. You’ll become (and feel!) more productive by incorporating this small habit into your daily routine.

Set Boundaries

During this busy time of the year, your manager will likely need to ask more of you. Maybe it’s adding another weekend shift or working longer hours than usual. As difficult as it may be for you to say no, be honest with yourself and your manager about what you can handle. By managing your work schedule effectively, you can strike a balance between work and personal life. Time off is necessary for you to recharge and be your best self at work.

Create a Self-Care Routine

It can be easy to neglect self-care during the demanding holiday season. But now more than ever, it’s crucial for you to set time during the day when you can solely focus on yourself and things that bring you peace and pleasure. Whether it’s reading a book, practicing yoga, or just going for a walk around the neighborhood, try to take at least one hour a day to do something for yourself. This will decrease your stress levels while giving you a jolt of positive energy to take on your work day.

How Employers Can Help Prevent Holiday Burnout

Reward Your Team

Whether it’s a personalized thank you card or team party, it’s important to express gratitude to your team – especially after a busy holiday season. It’s important that your team feels appreciated for their hard work. Our suggestion? Host a company party for all your employees. This can be a time for the team to get together and bond outside the workplace. Not only will they appreciate it, but it will also give team members something to look forward to while they’re in the thick of the holiday season.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Communication with your employees is key if you want to foster a healthy and positive work environment, and it’s important for your team to know that their voices and opinions matter. You can do this by hosting weekly team meetings as well as one-on-one calls to provide and receive feedback. This also creates a safe space for your team to express their concerns on any matter within the workspace.

Lead by Example

The most important thing you can do for your team is lead by example. You have the power to set the tone for a healthy work-life balance. If employees see their managers step in when the floor gets busy, it shows them you’re all one team and there to support each other. Likewise, if your team sees that you’re prioritizing self-care by taking breaks and time off when you need it, they’ll feel more comfortable following in your footsteps.

Remember: Your company’s success depends on the well-being of its team members. While the holidays may be a busy time for all of us in hospitality, it’s important to prioritize what matters most—like spending time with friends and family—to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Only then will you be able to avoid that dreaded holiday burnout and actually enjoy yourself during this festive season.