Working mums at Christmas: when “time off” isn’t actually time off

By the time December rolls around, many working mums are already running on empty.

Work hasn’t slowed down. School calendars are full. Childcare shifts. Mental load doubles. And somehow, Christmas is meant to feel restful.

For a lot of mums, the end-of-year break doesn’t mean switching off. It just means switching roles.

Work emails are replaced with logistics. Deadlines become to-do lists. “Time off” becomes a different kind of labour — invisible, unpaid, and emotionally demanding.

The hidden pressure of the festive period

There’s an unspoken expectation that Christmas should be joyful, calm, and full of quality time. When reality doesn’t match that picture, guilt creeps in.

Many working mums tell us that work can actually feel like the only place they sit down uninterrupted. The only space where they finish a thought. The only place they are “just themselves”, not needed by five people at once.

That doesn’t mean they don’t love their families. It means they’re tired.

Why workplace wellbeing matters more in December

End-of-year wellbeing is often treated as optional. A “nice to have” once the real work is done.

But December is when pressure peaks, not eases.

Supporting working mums at this time doesn’t require grand gestures. It means recognising reality:

• That burnout doesn’t politely wait until January

• That flexibility, pauses, and small moments of care actually matter

• That wellbeing isn’t about productivity, but sustainability

A short break. A moment of touch, creativity, or quiet. These aren’t indulgences — they’re regulation.

What real support looks like

At Pamper Puff, we work with (and are) working mums. We see first-hand how meaningful small interventions can be during the festive period.

Turning a break room into a calm space for an hour. Offering chair massage, nails, or a creative session that allows people to switch off without leaving the office. Making care accessible, not performative.

It sends a simple message: you are seen, and you don’t have to push through everything alone.

Ending the year with intention

Christmas doesn’t need to be louder, bigger, or more exhausting.

Sometimes the most supportive thing a workplace can do is create space to pause — especially for those who are holding everything together.

As we move into the new year, we hope more companies rethink what end-of-year care really looks like. Not as a reward for surviving, but as part of how we work.