The Christmas season is often described as “the most wonderful time of the year”. But for many businesses, regardless of the industry they work in, it can be the most stressful time of year. Whether you work in retail, healthcare or do something office-based, the run-up to Christmas can bring longer hours, higher workloads and the pressure to meet end of year goals.
However, together, this can take its toll on employee wellbeing, morale and productivity. With this in mind, it’s important that we’re considering the design of relaxation and breakout spaces. From ergonomic office furniture to private spaces created using office partitioning, there’s always a solution when it comes to designing rest spaces for Christmas.
It gives your employees somewhere to go, unwind and refresh their minds ready to go back to work again. But how can you go about implementing such spaces in your office? In this article, we’ll be going through the importance of employee rest spaces, especially at Christmas, as well as how you can design breakout areas for your employees over the festive period.
Why do rest spaces matter more during the Christmas season?
December is a month of extremes: bright decorations, loud music, constant activity and for many, very little downtime. Amidst all this stimulation, employees often have fewer breaks and higher customer interaction. This, therefore, increases fatigue and emotional strain in the process.
In short, a comfortable break out area for your employees isn’t just a luxury at Christmas, it’s a wellbeing essential all year round. But what can a well-designed breakout space do for your employees generally and not just during the festive period? Let’s take a closer look:
- Employee burnout is reduced
- Absenteeism is minimised
- Morale is boosted
- Energy levels are increased
- Social connections and team spirit is encouraged
- Focus is improved
- Productivity is boosted
How to design breakout areas for employees during Christmas
There are many ways in which you can design a breakout area for use at Christmas for your employees. The thing you need to understand is that breakout spaces need to be relaxing, comfortable and private. You need to provide employees with a safe place for them to sit and convene in confidence. They want to know that you’re not prying or spying on them.
It needs to be free of security cameras, and you, as their boss, should refrain from imposing on them, unless you’ve been asked. Now that we’ve touched on that, we can give you some hints and tips for designing a breakout area for employees during the Christmas period. Here’s how you can create a breakout area for your workforce that they can enjoy, not just at Christmas, but all year round:
Create a calm & comfortable atmosphere
When the workplace feels hectic, rest areas should offer a clear contrast – a quiet sensory reset. Consider warm, soft lighting instead of harsh overhead lights to start with. You should then think about adding some soft and natural touches to the space, including plants or wooden accents to add a sense of calm. Additionally, consider the implementation of comfortable furniture, including seating.
You should give some varied options, like beanbags, sofas, recliners and even floor cushions. Finally, decorating the space is paramount. Choose wall paint such as muted greens, blues and neutrals. This will help to offset the bright reds and golds of the Christmas season, but it’s also useful all year round as you won’t have the redecorate. These small design details can have a surprisingly big impact on relaxation and recovery.
Encourage mindful breaks
A rest space should support different kinds of rest. Adding elements like soft music, ambient sound machines or even a mini gratitude board can help employees to shift their mindset and decompress. Some of the things you can do include adding quiet zones for reflection, meditation, or simply enjoying a moment of peace, social spaces for friendly conversation and laughter, which is crucial for morale and, finally, wellness corners stocked with hydration stations, healthy snacks and mindfulness materials and resources.
Ensure inclusivity & flexibility
Not everyone celebrates Christmas. In addition, not everyone finds joy in the Christmas period. Rest spaces should, therefore, feel inclusive and adaptable. It should be a place where everyone can go to relax and unwind, regardless of their background or beliefs. Avoid overly festive decorations and instead opt for neutral, winter-inspired themes. Flexibility also matters. If space allows, modular furniture or moveable partitions let teams adjust the area for quiet solitude or group rest sessions as and when needed.
Foster a culture of rest
Even the best-designed breakout areas will be ineffective if workers don’t feel empowered enough to use them. Managers should encourage regular breaks and model this behaviour themselves. Managers should also be trained to recognise signs of stress and offer support proactively and accordingly. You should also encourage open communication about wellbeing resources and flexible scheduling. When leadership promotes rest as a strength rather than a sign of weakness, employees are more likely to recharge and return to work engaged and energised.
Keep it going beyond Christmas
Investing in staff wellbeing during the festive season pays off far beyond December. A well-designed rest space becomes a year-round asset. It supports creativity, retention and workplace satisfaction. So, as the busiest time of year approaches, remember: creating a place for employees to pause, breathe and reset might be the most valuable gift any workplace can give them.
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If you’d like to find out more about our office refurbishment services in Nottingham and how we can help transform your workspace, contact our friendly and experienced team today. We also provide a full range of office fit-out solutions, including the installation of breakout areas, commercial washrooms, suspended ceilings, office partitioning and much more – we’re always pleased to hear from you.