How to keep your employees motivated before Christmas holidays

But this doesn’t mean productivity needs to plummet. We are offering 8 intentional strategies on how to keep teams engaged, energized, and even enthusiastic during the final stretch of the year. Here’s how to keep motivation high before the holiday break.

Acknowledge the Season, Don’t Fight It

Trying to pretend the holidays aren’t happening is a losing battle. Instead, lean into the spirit of the season. Decorate the office (or virtual workspaces), play holiday music during breaks, or encourage festive attire on certain days. 

People stay more motivated at work when it actually feels like the season is coming, ignoring it is a bad idea. A warm, festive environment can actually enhance productivity by reducing stress and promoting a sense of belonging. Consider hosting a casual end-of-year team lunch or a virtual holiday trivia game to bring people together. Even a simple gesture like sharing holiday cards or thank-you notes can make the workplace feel more personal and appreciated.

Read more:

9 Ways To Keep Your Employees Engaged This Holiday Season

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Host a Secret Santa Gift Exchange

A lighthearted Secret Santa activity is a great way to build camaraderie and bring laughter into the workplace. Set a reasonable price limit and keep it optional to ensure everyone feels comfortable participating. Whether gifts are thoughtful, funny, or handmade, this tradition adds a personal touch to holiday celebrations and helps coworkers connect in a fun, low-pressure way.

Collect the names of all participants and randomly assign each person someone to give a gift to — this can be done with names in a hat or through an online generator, like online Secret Santa organizer. You can also encourage participants to fill out short wish lists or share a few interests to make gifting easier. On the day of the exchange, create a festive atmosphere with decorations, snacks, and maybe even a guessing game to reveal the Santas.

Here are some ideas for a Secret Santa reveal.

1. "Who’s Your Santa?" Clue Game. Before the exchange, ask each Secret Santa to write a short, playful clue about themselves (e.g., “I drink three cups of coffee before 9 AM” or “I once totally blanked on my boss’s name.”). After the gifts are opened, read the clues aloud one by one and let the recipient guess who their Secret Santa is.
2. Santa Bingo. Create bingo-style cards with fun traits or facts (e.g., "has a cat," "loves spicy food," "commutes by bike"). As people open gifts, others try to guess their Secret Santa by matching traits to coworkers. The first to fill a row or card gets a small prize.

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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Set Clear, Achievable Goals

Year-end can be overwhelming with multiple projects reaching completion. To help employees stay on track, break down larger objectives into short-term, achievable goals. Assign specific tasks to individuals or teams to ensure accountability. Clearly define what needs to be done, by whom, and by when. When people can see the finish line and feel a sense of progress, they are more motivated to give their best effort.

Use the SMART framework, which might help employees by providing clear, structured goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, making it easier for them to stay focused, motivated, and on track toward success.

Recognize and Reward Efforts

Employee recognition plays a crucial role in enhancing motivation and job satisfaction among employees. Here are some compelling statistics highlighting its impact:​

• Increased Motivation and Productivity: 79% of employees who receive recognition and rewards feel motivated to work harder, while 63% feel more committed to their employer. Source
• Improved Retention Rates: Organizations with effective recognition programs experience a 31% lower turnover rate compared to those without such programs. ​Source
• Enhanced Engagement: Employees who feel recognized are 4 times more likely to be engaged in their work. Source
• Stronger Company Culture: 80% of HR leaders agree that recognition programs improve workplace culture, leading to higher employee satisfaction. ​Source

Take the time to acknowledge hard work through public shout-outs, personal thank-you notes, or end-of-year awards. These acts don’t have to be elaborate — what matters most is that they’re sincere.

Offer Flexibility Where Possible

The holiday season comes with added responsibilities outside of work — shopping, school events, travel planning, and family commitments. Offering flexibility during this time can be a game-changer.

Consider allowing employees to shift their hours, work remotely, or take partial days off to handle personal tasks. Demonstrating empathy and understanding builds trust and loyalty. When people feel supported, they’re more likely to stay engaged and give their best, even when distractions loom.

Read more:

Remote Christmas traditions to bring your employees closer

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Celebrate the Year’s Successes

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on what your team has accomplished. Host a team meeting or informal gathering to highlight key wins and thank individuals who made a difference. This not only reinforces a sense of purpose but also helps employees end the year on a high note.

Here are some meaningful and simple ways to award employees with both words and tangible rewards:

Manage Workloads Carefully

Be mindful not to overload your employees before the holidays. It might be tempting to try to “wrap up everything” before year-end, but that pressure can backfire. Unrealistic expectations can lead to burnout and resentment, which are the enemies of motivation.

Instead, take a practical look at what truly needs to be completed before the break and what can reasonably wait. Focus on the most important tasks and give people enough space to finish the year well without burning out.

Share What’s Coming Next

Looking ahead can be a great motivator. Offer a preview of exciting projects or goals for the new year. Show employees how the work they’re doing now contributes to a greater purpose and bigger picture.

This kind of forward-looking communication can renew motivation and remind your team that what they do matters — both now and in the future.

It also helps build a sense of stability and direction, especially after a busy year. Consider sharing any upcoming changes, new roles, or growth opportunities that employees can look forward to. When people see a clear path ahead, they’re more likely to stay engaged and motivated.

Lead by Example

Finally, your own attitude will set the tone. Stay positive, engaged, and present. If you visibly check out early or show signs of holiday burnout yourself, your team is likely to follow suit.

Demonstrate balance: show that it’s okay to celebrate the season while still staying committed to meaningful work. A leader who models healthy work habits and a festive spirit creates an atmosphere where motivation can thrive.

Leaders who inspire and motivate through a clear vision and personal example are highly effective. A meta-analysis of 50 studies involving over 21,000 participants found that transformational leadership is strongly linked to increased intrinsic motivation among employees. ​Source

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