Be Mindful this Festive Season

The festive season is often celebrated as a time of joy, connection, and reflection. However, for many it brings unique challenges. Balancing work with personal responsibilities, managing financial pressures, and navigating social expectations can create stress and strain. It is vital to care for your mental health during this time and work on practical strategies to manage the demands to ensure you enjoy the season.

Understanding the Sources of Holiday Stress

The first step is managing stress sources effectively and understanding what is in your control to change.

1. Work-Related Pressure
   As the year comes to an end, many professionals face mounting workloads, tight deadlines, and the pressure to wrap up projects before the break. This can often lead to burnout, leaving little energy for personal celebrations.
2. Financial Strain
   Between buying gifts, attending events, and holiday travel, the financial festive strain can be overwhelming. This can heighten anxiety, especially when paired with the current rise in the cost of living.
3. Social Expectations
   The festive season often has a whirlwind of social engagements and family gatherings. While these can be joyful, they can also be a source of stress, mainly if there are unresolved conflicts or feelings of loneliness.

Poor mental health during this season can lead to a variety of physical and emotional symptoms, most commonly fatigue which significantly increases the risk of accidents at work.

1. Decreased Focus and Concentration
   It can be difficult to focus on tasks, increasing the chance of mistakes. Lack of concentration may cause workers to miss critical details, overlook safety protocols, or forget important steps in a process.
2. Reduced Decision-Making Ability
   Stress and mental exhaustion can impair judgment, leading individuals to make decisions that are rushed, risky, or not well thought out.
3. Impaired Coordination and Motor Skills
   When fatigue sets in, tasks may become more difficult to perform (especially ones that require precision), leading to mishaps or accidents, or may cause delayed responses during hazards.
4. Increased Irritability and Stress
   Mental health challenges often bring irritability or emotional stress, which can affect interactions with co-workers. A stressed worker may become more easily frustrated, leading to conflicts or miscommunication.
5. Physical Symptoms from Mental Strain
   The physical symptoms of stress may appear as headaches, dizziness, muscle tension, or poor sleep. Fatigue from disrupted sleep or ongoing stress can impair alertness, which is crucial for safe practices in workplaces with complex or high-risk tasks.

Preventing Accidents Linked to Poor Mental Health

The message for employees

Physical health and mental health go hand-in-hand. Although the festive season is usually associated with social events and overindulgence, it is important to maintain healthy habits that can improve focus, reduce stress, and lower the likelihood of accidents. Remember, small healthy habit changes can make a big difference!

• Daily physical activity
• Healthy eating and hydration
• Practice good sleep hygiene

The message for employers

Work claims for mental health conditions continue to increase and now account for 11% of all serious claims. The median time lost from work in these cases is more than 5 times that recorded across all injuries/diseases. Implementing strategies that promote a culture of mental health awareness and support is essential. When employees feel supported, they are more likely to communicate when they are struggling, which can prevent accidents caused by mental fatigue or stress.

Organisations and leaders have a responsibility to look after their people’s wellbeing, but how do we navigate this complex issue. WFR’s Enhancing Mental Health program equips leaders and staff with the knowledge to recognise signs of stress, fatigue, or other mental health issues. This can help prevent mental health risks before they lead to accidents.