Overshadow Blue Monday 2022 with Enriching Employee Experiences
What is Blue Monday?
What originated out as a PR campaign, Blue Monday is a term that was coined by Sky Travel in 2005 as a way of getting customers to book a holiday and ultimately put a stop to feelings around the dreaded January blues. The campaign was supported by the research of a Dr Cliff Arnall, who created a formula to suggest that employees suffer demotivation in January. Specifically, he marked the third Monday of January as ‘the most depressing day of the year’. Why? This theory is backed by factors like lower light levels, financial uncertainty following the Christmas period and new-year resolutions hanging by a thread1.
To make this ‘Blue Monday’ a day that disregards Mr Arnall’s logic, we’ve curated an easy-to-follow shortlist of proven mood-boosting approaches and takeaway tips, that are sure to put that spring back in every employee step this January – if it was missing in the first place, at all. Unlock enduring positivity, happiness, motivation and radiant well-being, right here.
Ways to Support Your Employees This Blue Monday
Get social
Whether it’s in person or over a Zoom call, gathering the team together for downtime offers the chance to interact on topics beyond the weekly agenda or the to-do list. Spark conversation and open the pathways for breaking down barriers, giving your employees the signal that it’s okay to be transparent with their thoughts and feelings. This is a good way to build trust between you and your team2.
Offer flexibility
Summer has been and gone and vitamin D is in short supply. So, be open to offering flexible working hours to gift your staff that hour or two of sunlight in the morning before work, to brighten up those dark, colder days of winter3. With 29% of UK adults displaying vitamin-D deficiency, don’t let your workforce become part of the 9.4m working adults in the UK feeling the effects of the January blues4.
Recognition, recognition and more recognition
From a simple ‘thank you’ for a job well done, to HR rewards and recognition programmes, ensure your gratitude is on display this Blue Monday – and the rest of the year, in fact. Without genuine thanks, staff can lack motivation and feel overworked without just rewards. Blue Monday, work anniversaries, team achievements and long service awards. Make sure to reward generously where due, on every occasion that matters to your team.
Mindfulness
Not everyone feels like jogging 5km before work or hitting the gym on their lunch break. Instead, bring the endorphins to their office desks and communal areas. Try meditation or yoga through a virtual or in-person class and rid the office of any negativity or dwindling enthusiasm holding them back from reaching their true potential each day5.
Have you ever tried the G.L.A.D. mindfulness exercise? Gratitude, learned, accomplishment and delight. Identify one of each from your day. Do this exercise every day and you’ll see a clear boost in your mood. We far too often focus on the negativity each day can bring. This allows us to reflect and easily recognise our successes and achievements. Share this technique with your team and ask them to make it a good habit to follow each morning. Positivity is contagious.
Food for the soul
Provide a healthy, delicious lunch or breakfast. From fruit drops on a Wednesday to sweet and savoury breakfasts on a Monday, vegan to vegetarian, whatever palates you’re catering to, where there’s nutritious, wholesome food, there’s love. Tailor your food drops by getting a questionnaire in circulation, to cater to all preferences and dietary requirements7.
Employee Well-being outside of Work
More can be done outside office hours, too. Help your employees take hold of their lives with gusto and champion feeling great through a few simple, easy-to-follow suggestions.
Leave e-mails at the office
We’re all guilty of checking our e-mails on the weekends or weeknights. But unplugging from work gives a clear divide between work and free time. Overlapping the two can be a slippery slope, leading to increased time stuck to the phone screen or monitor. It can be tempting to know what’s waiting in the inbox on Monday morning. But defining clear boundaries can help keep life in check. Advise your staff to turn off those notifications and enjoy a fulfilling weekend, ping-free, doing the activities or days out that keep their minds healthy.
Getting into a sleeping regime
Sleep deprivation affects employee performance. Going to bed early to get a minimum of 7–8 hours of sleep, allows employees feel rested, ready and raring for the day ahead. Running on reserve fumes is only going to ruin Monday as soon as that alarm goes off8.
Making time for me-time
When was the last time one of your employees tried something new for the first time? Or made time for something they love? Check in to see. Putting aside time for hobbies and activities they love, ensures a clear divide between work and downtime – time they deserve to be fulfilling and packed with enjoyment. Work and no play aren’t a sustainable combination for an enriching life9.
Food for thought …
Check in and support your employees this coming Blue Monday. And every Monday if need be. Provide an inspiring employee experience throughout their journey under your leadership – you’ll achieve growth and success beyond measure. As a team and a business. Strike the right balance of authority and flexibility to attain the optimum level of performance, whilst reducing churn and lagging motivation.
Kick-start Your HR Transformation with Red Letter Days Corporate
Staff don’t thrive on monetary employee rewards alone, anymore. They thrive through recognition, too. Recognition schemes are no longer a nice-to-have HR package – they’re a must-have10. Behind every workstation is a person. A person with a diverse array of drivers that push them forward to achieve that get-up-and-go attitude we look for. Ensure you optimise your HR processes with a robust rewards and recognition roadmap that addresses the evolving digital climate.
You can help boost success in the workplace, spark unchartered conversations and innovate HR processes to make a real difference to employee happiness and fulfilment. That journey starts here. As the best, originals in the business since 1989, beyond Blue Monday, look to our expertise with employee rewards and recognition.
From work anniversaries to long service awards, explore 1000s of inspirational gift experiences to display your gratitude in the perfect way possible – matching your company culture and vision in the process. Access customised packaging and insert sheets through your own branded platform, allowing gift recipients to redeem their vouchers easily and hassle-free. With a designated account manager by your side every step of the way, aligning company goals with recognition has never been easier. Start your journey to HR excellence with us, today.