Thrive in Five Newsletter: Simple Ways to Celebrate With Your Team This Month
December in federal service is its own kind of marathon…everything needs to close out before you can clock out. But that break is coming, and you’ve earned every minute of it.
This month, we wanted to send something that feels less like work and more like a gift. Five simple ideas to help you and your team breathe, connect, and actually enjoy this holiday season.
Five Ways to Close the Year Together
1. Make space for everyone’s December reality
🔗 Holiday Wellbeing: Simple Ways for Federal Employees to Stay Balanced This Season
December is magical and messy all at once. This guide has gentle ideas for giving your team room to breathe: small reset moments, boundary-setting tips, and permission to take things at a human pace. Because taking care of people isn’t extra. It’s everything.
2. Celebrate without breaking the bank
🔗 Creative Team Celebrations on a Federal Budget
You don’t need much to show you care. Here are thoughtful, budget-friendly ways to recognize your team’s incredible work this year. Sometimes the smallest gestures mean the most.
3. Bring a little joy to your next meeting
These quick icebreakers take just a few minutes and work for every personality on your team — introverts included. Perfect for adding a genuine spark of connection to 1:1’s, planning sessions, or any gathering that could use a little festive joy.
4. Laugh together (really, it only takes 15 minutes)
🔗 Quick Holiday Games for the Office
Sometimes the best team building happens when you’re not trying so hard. These simple games work for any size team. No complicated setup, no awkward forced fun. Just easy activities that get people genuinely smiling and talking to each other.
5. Give back in a way that feels meaningful
Service hits differently when it aligns with what your team cares about. This guide helps you find giving that match your team’s values and mission. Sometimes the best gift is doing something good together.
Pick something from this list — just one thing — and give yourselves permission to enjoy it. The work will be there in January. But right now? Enjoy a moment of celebration and gratitude with your team.
From everyone at Evans: thank you for the work you do and the way you show up. You make missions happen, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
Happy holidays. Rest well. Come back strong.
