Improving Motivation during the Winter Months, by Sam Flynn, Personnel Surveys

Nov. 10, 2009 - PRLog -- Winter can be a hard cold time for everyone, getting to work before the sun comes up and going home after it has gone down.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects 7% of the UK population with symptoms including depression, sleep problems, lethargy and anxiety.

So how can we ensure that morale and motivation stay at high levels during the winter months?


1.   Ensure your employees have a break outdoors during the day.
It is easy to work through lunch or grab a quick bite in the staff canteen.  However, this means we really are missing out on the chance of seeing any daylight hours.  Even a short ten minute stroll outdoors can lift the spirits and refresh the brain.  Provide incentives for those taking a break outdoors, such as staff deals with local coffee shops or cafes.

2.   Use bright colours round the workplace.
Using colour therapy has been shown to significantly improve people’s moods.  Offices that are grey and drab are more likely to result in employees feeling lethargic and lower their mood.  This does not have to mean a total office refit.  Just sending out emails in bright colours or using bright signs and notices can help.  How about putting a small plant on each employee’s desk to brighten up their workstation?  

3.   Make sure the office is well lit.
Having low levels of lighting will only lead to increased SAD symptoms.  Ensure that your workplace is well lit at all times to reduce feelings of lethargy.  For those particularly affected, it may be worthwhile increasing the lighting within their area with the help of lamps.  Make sure that windows are kept clean and as much natural light is entering the office as possible.  Do not obstruct the windows with blinds.

4.   Make a big deal of Christmas!
It might sound cheesy but a lot of people see Christmas as the only highlight of the winter months.  Moods can easily be raised by focusing on Christmas.  Run decorations competitions between departments.  Have a Christmas fancy dress competition.  Stage an organisation wide nativity.  Play music in the run up to Christmas.  Have an advent calendar with special treats behind each door, with the most successful employee of the day getting to open it.  Moods will instantly rise when Christmas is brought into the workplace!

5.   Encourage holiday time during winter.
Most employees tend to take time off during the summer.  However, winter sun can really lift the spirits while the weather at home is anything but sunny!  It could be worthwhile providing incentives for time off during the winter.  For example, for every 4 days off between October and February, get one day off free.  This will also solve problems of reduced workforces during the summer months.

6.   Get active.
Exercise naturally releases endorphins, improving moods and lifting spirits.  Educate all employees about the advantages of leading a healthy lifestyle through exercise.  How about organising a sponsored walk for charity?  This has many advantages including getting everyone up and active, team building, helping a good cause, raising organisational profile through free publicity, getting everyone out of the office during lunchtime, and focusing employees’ attentions away from their own problems.  

7.   Encourage healthy eating.
Eating high levels of carbohydrates, such as pies, pasties, white bread and other starchy products, can lead to high levels of lethargy.  Encourage your employees to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, to improve energy levels.  Have a different soup of the day every week in the canteen at reduced rates.  Run free fruit days.  Educate all employees about the advantages of leading a healthy lifestyle through food.  

8.   Family time.
With minimum daylight hours, spending active outdoor time with the family over winter can be difficult.  Encourage your employees to get out with their families over winter.  Advertise local outdoor events to your employees, which would keep the whole family entertained.  You could run an organisation family day including outdoor activities and adventures.  How about a treasure hunt?  Or a ramble around a local well known historical point?  Something that will involve the whole family getting them out together over the weekend.

With improved levels of motivation and morale, productivity and performance will also increase, while turnover and absences will naturally decrease.  Following the above tips can help ensure that your employees’ motivation does not dip during winter.
For more information on measuring employee motivation, take a look at our website, www.personnelsurveys.co.uk.

Have a great winter!

The Personnel Surveys Team

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Personnel Surveys are a dedicated employee surveys provider based in the Northwest. There is little point in measuring the current situation unless you are prepared to take action from the results. We assist in setting up an internal action group