The Best Virtual Office Holiday Gathering Ideas

The idea of coming together is a theme that characterizes the holiday season for many of us. 

Despite haunting memories, you may have from past work parties, it is a key pillar in celebrating your company’s culture and your success for the year. It allows employees to get to know each other and to reflect while also permitting them to let their hair down.

This should not be any different if you have a virtual or flexible workforce because of the pandemic. By hosting a virtual party, you show that you care about the morale of your employees.

So how can you have a memorable holiday party when you cannot bring your team together in person? You are in luck as there are now plenty of options for fun virtual experiences out there.

Following are some virtual holiday activities you can do while you are still at home:

Online Cocktail Party

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The holidays would not be the holidays without some relaxed conversation along with non-alcoholic and alcoholic refreshments. Typically, this would involve corralling everyone into a venue. You can do this from the comfort of your own home and drink with your colleagues from around the world.

One simple way to approach this is to have your team purchase their drinks and then jump on a video conferencing app like Zoom. This is a good option if you are short on time and on a budget.

If you would like to make things a little chic, some companies will send you a selection of drinks to sample.

Mixology Classes

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If your team is feeling more adventurous then why not take it a step further and try learning to make your cocktails. This is a great activity if you want to give something to your team to talk about right away and connect through a shared goal. Most virtual Mixology classes send out everything you need to get going.

Karaoke

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For the bravest teams, Karaoke is a great way to get everyone out of their shells and into the holiday spirit.

You can easily find karaoke resources on YouTube, but try to get song recommendations from your attendees beforehand so you do not have to waste precious time on the call looking for music. Tools such as Watch2Gether will help sync up your internet song browsing experience to make sure everyone can keep up and are on the same page.

Meditation Classes

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While many see the holidays as a cheery time, for some it can be a stressful time for many reasons including financial, social pressures, and isolation. You can help your employees slow down a little and prioritize their well-being for a few moments.

Studies have shown that meditation helps reduce anxiety, improve concentration and remove stress. Mindfulness and presence are great skills to develop in life for any celebration. This could be the first step in a new journey for your team.

Baking Challenges

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Holidays are the time of year to indulge and give in to your sweet-toothed cravings. If your team likes their baked goods (with a hint of competition), why not propose a baking challenge?