Health and Wellbeing

The advent of a self-care Christmas

By focussing on self-care, our health and wellbeing coordinator has a plan for us to get through the Christmas season and not suffer the January blues.

In these chastened times, for some, Christmas may offer relief from their worries. The joy of gathering family together and connecting with friends and neighbours is the essence of the Christmas spirit. However, over the past decade, it has increasingly come with rampant consumerism and excess leading to a whopping financial and physical hangover in January.

Retailers are acutely aware of how over-stretched our budgets will be this year and will be going all out to try to persuade us to part with our money. It’s easy to get caught up in this, but the truth is, we really don’t need those sherry laced vol-auvents, the latest must have gadget or that third glass of mulled wine.

How about trying a different approach this year? It takes some focus and determination to not get sucked up into over-eating and excess drinking, but it doesn’t mean you have to be the office Scrooge by not having fun and letting your hair down. It’s a case of carefully choosing your moments to have fun, but staying on track for the rest of the time.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hit 1 January and not feel like you have overindulged with all the feelings of regret that brings? Imagine starting 2023 feeling energised and ready to face the New Year with renewed vigour?

For the best chance of success, devise a routine. A novel way to do this is to ditch the chocolate advent calendar and instead have a health advent calendar. Behind each door, have a task that contributes to nourishing your mind and body. For example, schedule a meditation session, have a cooking-healthyfood-from-scratch day, a brisk 10k walk, an early night, sprinkle in days with no alcohol and, on some days, just say no to a party invitation.

By approaching Christmas mindfully and devoting every day in the run up to 25 December to your mental and physical health, it will pay huge dividends and you will go into 2023 with a definite spring in your step.

Employers – avoid the Christmas party headache

This year may be the first company-wide social event some have attended post lockdown.

Social events can play an important part in rewarding employees and building strong teams and are useful for promoting cross-team working and improving communication.

Employers have a duty of care for their staff during work events, whether they fall outside of usual working hours or not.

Here are some helpful tips to avoid this party season being more of a headache than it should be: • Ensure your policies are up to date and set expectations around behaviour • Set a fixed finish time so that employees can arrange lifts/taxis in advance • Select entertainment carefully to ensure it won’t cause offence • Provide food and ensure that soft drinks are freely available throughout the event • Underage employees should not be permitted to purchase alcohol • Check for any allergies or dietary requirements beforehand to ensure that the event is inclusive • Don’t forget to invite all your employees including those working remotely • Don’t make attendance compulsory • Hold regular training sessions in Equality and

Diversity and Anti-Harassment and Bullying • Avoid an unlimited free bar, consider a voucher system for alcoholic drinks • Avoid drunken promises, they may be held to be binding! Emma Starmer Senior Employment Law and HR Advisor emma.starmer@la-law.com 01202 786276