Ways to make this year's holidays Extra Special for your Coworking Community

While many businesses make an effort to show their appreciation for their workers during the holidays, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners frequently get the short end of the stick. Simply put, they lack corporate-sponsored events to attend or coworkers with whom to celebrate the holidays.

However, some of these individuals do have a coworking space community to which they can celebrate. It can be a lonely time of year for those who spend most of their time working alone, so hosting a holiday party at a coworking space can help spread some much-needed holiday cheer to its community.

Consider using some of the following original ideas for your next party if you want to bring your coworking community together this holiday season.

Participate in a Charitable Event for your Neighborhood

Take advantage of the fact that people are more likely to be giving during the holidays by planning an event or fundraising drive for a nearby charitable organization. This will give your coworkers a good reason to socialize while also giving back to your neighborhood. Additionally, if the community takes notice, it could generate excellent publicity for your coworking space and the companies of your participants.

See if you can all volunteer at a related charity or raise money on their behalf after trying to identify a cause that really appeals to your coworking community. Holiday-related volunteer opportunities might include assembling care packages for the homeless, gathering gifts for kids, and serving food at a neighborhood soup kitchen.

Organize a Game Night

When planning your holiday party, think about hosting a game night if you want your coworking space members to relax and have some fun. You can offer them a variety of board games or engage them in other age-old games like charades and pictionary.

A game night has the benefit of allowing you to customize it for your particular coworking space. If everyone celebrates Christmas, for instance, you could play a game of charades or have people act out Christmas-related clues. On the other hand, you could just as easily omit any specific holiday references and focus solely on having fun with your loved ones.

Get a Holiday Wellness Party Together

For some people, the holidays can be a stressful time of year. Rather than giving them alcohol and baked goods to relax them, why not get everyone involved in an activity that might be good for their physical and/or mental health?

You might organize a group meditation session, invite a yoga or dance instructor to teach a class there, or invite a speaker to discuss workplace wellness. It may spur some worthwhile New Year's resolutions and result in a happier and healthier workplace if you let members of your coworking community learn about and practice healthy physical and mental practices.

Holiday stress can easily transform a much-needed break into a cause of additional tension and rifts. An open and welcoming workplace community offers a sounding board of diverse people who are willing and able to suggest helpful resources and offer considerate guidance. You can find the resources you need to quickly turn your to-dos into to-dones and cross them off your list by working together with other coworkers in your coworking space.

The holiday season can be a fast-moving roller coaster with many ups and downs as well as twists and turns for many business owners, independent contractors, and other remote workers. Although it's an exciting ride, it can also be nerve-racking. No matter what challenges arise, a strong coworking community can give you the push you need to stay on course and keep moving forward.