HOLIDAY HACK OF THE WEEK
Cozy Szn
Make your holiday guests feel cozy and calm with this Feng-Shui holiday tip from the Feng Shui With Me blog:
“Play with the 5 elements so that you (and guests, if any) feel welcome and nourished. Try different colors, shapes, smells, textures, light arrangements. My favorite thing is to incorporate nature in table decor: a branch, some rocks, a floating candle, etc., a fire in the fireplace. Keep the decor simple and playful.”
TOGETHER WITH BLUEBOARD
What type of recognition is right for your people?
We all value being thanked, whether in our personal or professional lives.
❗There is a small problem though…
People are much better at saying Thank-You than companies are.
In our personal lives, we understand that recognition is meant to be impactful, but companies fall in the trap of appreciating their employees simply to check a mark.
To get to the root of how to take recognition from transactional to transformative, Blueboard is hosting a workshop on January 5th at 10:00 am PST to go step-by-step how companies can build a recognition program specific to the needs of their people.
This will be an interactive exercise where you’ll hear from HR leaders, exchange recommendations, and workshop your own recognition ideas on the spot.
RSVP to gain access to this can’t miss HR industry event
YOU DO YOU
You ARE a Strategic Thinker
Strategic thinkers are made—not born. Or at least they can be made, according to a PNAS research paper.
So how do you make yourself into a more strategic thinker?
Here’s the short answer:
- Plan your projects and approaches ahead of time. There can be no solid strategies without solid planning habits.
- Monitor your progress.
- Think about it critically.
- What’s going well?
- What could be better?
- Be flexible and adjust your approaches as needed.
- Think about it critically.
- Ask questions to stoke your strategic thinking each and every day. Examples include,
- “What can I do to help myself?”
- “How else can I do this?”
- “Is there a way to do this even better?”
TOGETHER WITH SUNSAMA
Your New Fave Digital Planner
Some people prefer pen & paper while others prefer a digital workflow.
💻 If you prefer keeping track of your tasks and projects digitally, Sunsama is for you.
Here’s what you’ll get from Sunsama:
- Daily prompts and reminders to organize your day (helping build good habits)
- Integrations with the tools you’re already using
- Assistance in creating a sustainable morning (or evening) routine
- Structure around your priorities
- Reporting on what your time is spent on
But don’t take our word for it — try it free today and let us know how it worked for you.
Try it for free today
P.S. Their Focus Mode is a game changer 👌.
LEVEL UP
An Rx for Remote-Work Loneliness
C – Capture core bonding knowledge remotely with a tool like Know Your Team, which makes it easy to collect insights that create a sense of relational closeness.
O – Offer help. According to Superconnector: Stop Networking and Start Building Business Relationships that Matter, the best connectors don’t just strive to know more people; they strive to help more people.
N – Nerd out together during brief coworking sessions. (If no one on your team is into that, then get your fix of human contact by using a tool such as Focusmate.)
N – Nerd out together during mutli-player gaming sessions. This brilliant idea from Make Use Of allows teams to bond while completely forgetting that work even exists.
E – Escape the home office. Take your laptop to a bustling public place for a quick fix of loneliness-busting human energy.
C – Call in the professionals. Convince leadership to implement a company-wide tool, such as Hivebrite, that takes the onus of connecting with coworkers away from you.
T – Take them “out” for a drink. Plan monthly in-person or virtual happy hours or coffee dates. Most people can commit to meeting once a month, and the standing tradition provides peace of mind. (You never have to wonder when you’ll get your new fix of coworker social time!)
WATERCOOLER TALK
What’s happening in December besides Christmas?
Christmas gets a lot (nearly all) the attention in December. Here are some other, but certainly not all, holidays and observances happening this month.
Hanukkah (December 18 – 26)
This Jewish festival commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
How to celebrate
International Human Rights Day (December 10)
This global commemoration marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
How to celebrate
Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)
This Catholic feast day celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe and her cultural symbolism of love and acceptance.
How to celebrate
St. Lucia Day (December 13)
This Swedish holiday honors the legendary Saint Lucia and her practice of bringing food to those starving in Roman prisons.
How to celebrate
Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)
This African American and Pan African holiday celebrates the principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
How to celebrate
Omisoka (December 31)
This Japanese holiday is all about welcoming in a new year.
How to celebrate
Pancha Ganapati (December 21 – 25)
This Hindu holiday is a time of generosity, gratitude, and family bonding centered around worship of Lord Ganesha.
How to celebrate
Bodhi Day (Buddhist) (December 8)
This Buddhist holiday commemorates Siddhartha Gautama achieving enlightenment and becoming the Buddha.
How to celebrate
Krampusnacht (December 5)
This German holiday gets people dressing up like a horned monster and chasing around naughty children. (Fun, right?)
How to celebrate
Winter Solstice (December 21)
This is the day when the Sun reaches its southernmost point in the Northern Hemisphere and winter officially begins.
How to celebrate
PARTNER PICKS
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Weve offers over 100 games you can play with your team to build stronger workplace culture.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY
Latest Listings
🔖 Catch up on all OG Tuesday newsletters here.
🏆 Need some inspo for employee recognition ideas? Find out how to make your employees feel special.
📜 Want to become a better storyteller? There are limited spots, so grab yours while you can for this webinar! Use code ASSIST20 for 20% off.
🏪 The Assist Store: Check out our Christmas Trivia and browse our Etsy Store.
SPILL THE TEA
Hooray, You Made It to the End of Our Newsletter!
Riddle me this: You are in a place called Wally’s World and there is only one law. There is a mirror, but no reflection. There is pizza with cheese, but not sausage. There is pepper, but no salt. There is a door, yet no entrance or exit. What is the law?
⭐ Answer here.