December: A Month to Breathe

December comes in loud. Holidays, deadlines, and year end wrap ups all competing for attention. But underneath all the noise, this month gives us something else too. A natural pause. A chance to step back, check in, and ask how we’re really doing.

It’s National Stress Free Family Holidays Month, Seasonal Depression Awareness Month, and the time of year when a lot of people feel pulled in too many directions. It’s also a time when quiet moments can make a big difference if we let them.

For You and Your Team

Wellness this month isn’t about adding anything new. It’s about giving yourself and others permission to do less. To simplify. To say, “this can wait.”

Ask your team how they’re holding up. Not just what they’re working on.

Encourage real lunch breaks and time away from screens.

Lighten the load where you can, even just a little.

Be flexible when people need space for life outside of work.

Pay Attention to What’s Not Working

This time of year often reveals the cracks. People are tired. The pace catches up to them. You may notice frustration, short tempers, or disengagement. Don’t ignore it. These are signals, not problems. They’re telling you where something needs care.

Checking in, adjusting expectations, or simply acknowledging that something’s been hard can go a long way.

A Good Time to Reset

December isn’t just the end of the year. It’s a window. You get to choose what you carry into January and what you leave behind. That includes habits, expectations, and ways of working that no longer fit.

Use this time to: Reflect on what supported your team this year and what didn’t.

Clean up one broken process you’ve been tolerating for too long.

Ask what would make next year more manageable, not just more productive.

People are not meant to run full speed forever. A workplace that makes space for rest, even small imperfect moments of it, is one where people feel like they can stay. Not just physically, but mentally too.

This month, resist the pressure to finish strong at any cost. Focus on finishing honestly, with care. That’s what people remember. That’s what builds trust.

And maybe take your own advice too.