How to support staff who may be struggling in the new year

The festive period can be an exciting, joyous and busy occasion. After some time off to exchange gifts, catch up with loved ones and play board games, many employees will be heading back to work to kick-start 2026.

As the cold weather and dark nights continue to linger, it can be difficult for employees to return to work and resume usual routines.  

“The start of the year can be emotionally mixed for people,” says Dr Sophie Mort, a Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Expert at Headspace.

Dr Sophie explains that “some employees might experience what’s often called the ‘post-holiday dip’, where the contrast between social connection and returning to routine feels jarring.”

Previous research supports this, finding that 44% of adults feel that they suffer from the ‘January Blues’ [1].

“For others, winter weather, shorter days, and reduced sunlight can lower mood and energy levels,” she says. “There’s also the pressure of ‘new year, new me’ thinking, which can create unrealistic expectations or feelings of failure when motivation naturally fluctuates,” she adds.

How employers can spot the signs of post-festive blues

As Dr Sophie explains, there are several reasons an employee may struggle at the start of the year.

To ensure that staff remain productive and engaged, it’s important that employers and HR can spot the warning signs and offer wellbeing support.

“An employee who is usually engaged might become quieter in meetings or miss small deadlines,” Dr Sophie says, adding that they might also appear tired, distracted or withdrawn.

Aside from shifts in behaviour, she explains that physical signs may also show up such as increased sick days or changes in appearance.

“Sometimes people overcompensate by working longer hours or taking on more tasks than they can manage, which can be another signal of stress or low mood,” Dr Sophie adds.

Employees might not always be forthcoming about the challenges they are facing, so it’s important that employers and managers are able to spot the warning signs and direct them to the best tools and resources.

How to support staff wellbeing in the new year (and beyond)

For Dr Sophie, the right support starts with creating a culture where wellbeing is a regular conversation and a topic that is championed by senior leaders.

She says that employers can also take practical steps to support employees, for example, by encouraging flexible working. This can help staff make use of the natural light during the darker months and ease back into the new year routine.

Elsewhere, Dr Sophie says that promoting physical activity, by “offering short wellbeing breaks, walking meetings, or team step challenges”, can also be helpful.

According to data from the Mental Health Foundation, 45% of UK adults feel that their mental health and wellbeing could be improved by doing more physical exercise[2].

Encouraging employees to get active, and rewarding them for doing so, could help them feel more motivated - particularly in the new year when resolutions tend to be set but the colder weather can make it feel difficult to stick to them.

For example, through the Vitality Programme, Vitality members can unlock great rewards to choose from when they get active, like discounts on hand-crafted drinks and cinema tickets, and cashback on healthy food.

Over time, incentivising employees to get active could help them feel more motivated to build healthier physical activity habits that could have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.

At an individual level, this can help employees improve their health and wellbeing but, over time, these behaviours can collectively contribute to building a workplace culture where wellbeing is prioritised and supported.

Business health insurance plans and mental health support

Separately, employers could also look to provide more direct support for those struggling with their mental health through business health insurance plans.

For example, with a Vitality health plan, employees can access up to eight sessions of Talking Therapies, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling, per plan year.

Additionally, tools such as the Headspace app, which is available to Vitality members, can also give employees access to hundreds of meditations and mindfulness exercises on the app, anytime they need.  

The new year can be a difficult adjustment period for many so it’s crucial that employers and HR are proactive in identifying colleagues who might be struggling and provide tools and support to get the best out of their people in the year ahead.

[1] Post-Christmas blues kick in as Britons struggle to feel productive back at work, study claims, Independent

[2] Mental Health Foundation, Moving more is good for our mental health so what’s stopping us? 2024

Related: Luke McClaran mens mental health