The end of the year is just a few weeks away, bringing with it a hectic schedule for many of us. Between holiday parties, final budgets, end of year donations, project deadlines, and personal obligations, closing out the year is often incredibly stressful. As executive assistants we know just how busy December can be. But we also know how important it is, for both your business and yourself, to take a step back when you can and find ways to de-stress.  

Now is a good time to remember some of the basic practices for self-care at your desk. Start with the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of staring at your computer screen, stop and look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This will alleviate some eye strain and help you to break out of the tunnel vision of staring too long at a project. It also helps once every hour to stand up and move a bit. Walk to the kitchen for a cup of coffee or do some light stretches before sitting back down. Don’t wait until January 1st to reinstate some healthier habits at your desk – start now!  

End of year parties can fill you up with heavy foods and leave you feeling lethargic. This is a good time of year to focus on preparing healthy lunches for the work day. Salads aren’t just for summer, you know! Meal prepping can help you to feel organized and on top of things, in the midst of a chaotic work week. Drinking lots of water will also help balance out all those extra office cookies. Keep a full water bottle handy. Refill it when you take a break to stretch and try to drink water instead of snacking between meals.  
 

Meanwhile, this is the time of year for reflection. In between your daily tasks, schedule time to look at the big picture. It’s important to take a strategic look at your business practices and ask yourself – What has worked well? What can be refined? What systems need to be completely overhauled? Consider what practices could help you better manage budget tracking or inter-office communications in the new year and prepare to institute them. This is a good way to close out the year neatly and enter 2025 confidently prepared for the year ahead. 
 

And finally, step away from your desk, look away from your email, and enjoy some time with friends and family.  
 

Happy Holidays from all of us at Ann Albrecht Consulting. We hope you get some rest and relaxation so you can feel rejuvenated for the year ahead.  
 

See you in 2025! 

The post MANAGING STRESS AT THE END OF THE YEAR appeared first on Ann Albrecht Consulting.

Here are a few ways to spice up your virtual holiday party, so it doesn’t feel like just another video call. 

PLAY A GAME 

Is your team playful and competitive? Try hosting a virtual game night! You can find trivia questions in a variety of categories online or design your own with questions about your company or specific field. Divide into teams (maybe by department), or if you are a small group, have everyone play on their own. Don’t forget about prizes for the winners! 

If you are looking for something that is more about team building, try a virtual escape room or murder mystery game. There are several services that will guide you through a virtual game and make party planning a snap! Your team will have fun trying to beat the clock, and you will learn tons about everyone’s problem-solving style in the process. 

Try outbackteambuilding.com or theescapegame.com for fun and creative team building games. 

DO A TASTING 

One way to make a remote party feel more festive is by ensuring everyone has something to eat and drink. Send your employees gift baskets ahead of time, so everyone has snacks for the party. Or provide them with gift cards so everyone can choose their own treats. If you want to go bigger, why not host a live cooking demonstration, with your team members following along in their own kitchens?  

You can also sign up for tastings, with a guest expert to guide the team through a tasty tour. Learn about wine and cheese pairings, eat some delectable chocolates, or try a guided meditation with accompanying herbal tea. 

Check out withconfetti.com, priorityexperiences.com, or unboxedexperiences.com for a variety of food- and drink-based activities. 

It’s important to remember, if you are planning to incorporate alcohol, be sure this won’t get you in trouble with your company or alienate any of your team members. When in doubt, keep it clean. And when sending any food or supplies ahead of time, make sure to factor in enough time for shipping to all locations – if you have team members abroad, you will need to plan further in advance! 

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR 

If you want to celebrate somewhere more exotic than your home office, why not take a trip around the world? For a celebration that is a bit more out-of-the-box, sign up for a virtual tour of a foreign city. Take your team on a virtual adventure and explore someplace new and exciting, from the comfort of your own home. Incorporating themed snacks would be a fantastic way to make this an all-encompassing experience. 

Woyago.com offers virtual tours from Paris to New Delhi, specifically designed for team-bonding. 

Planning a virtual team event doesn’t have to be stressful. There are lots of resources available to help you put together an experience that your coworkers will love. And don’t forget to thank them for their hard work and take time to appreciate another successful year for you and your team! 

The post 3 FUN IDEAS FOR YOUR VIRTUAL HOLIDAY PARTY  appeared first on Ann Albrecht Consulting.