Why the holiday season is perfect for team learning
The holiday season brings a unique energy to the workplace as work slows down and many people spend more time with family and friends. For remote teams, this time can be both exciting and complicated. With different time zones, holiday schedules, and workloads, remote employees can feel isolated in December. However, this season is also a great opportunity for personal growth as the workload is lighter. Done correctly, remote holiday learning can be a valuable gift for distributed teams, equipping them with all the skills they need for the new year.
E-learning makes this possible. Flexible options and mobile-friendly content allow businesses to deliver a festive and meaningful learning experience. The calm atmosphere of this season is ideal for low-pressure, yet high-impact L&D activities. This article explains why vacations are great for team development, how remote teams can benefit, and strategies to make vacation learning effective.
Understand the needs of distributed teams
Holidays look different around the world. What may be a busy celebration in one country may be just a normal working day in another. Teams working in different locations face challenges during the Christmas season, including:
Different time zones. various cultural holidays and personal traditions. Different workloads. Unpredictable travel plans. Communication that is not real time. It is unlikely that you will be able to cooperate immediately.
For this reason, remote holiday learning needs to be flexible and inclusive. Distributed teams need learning materials that can be accessed at any time, with options that fit a variety of schedules, especially during leisurely afternoons or while waiting at the airport. They prefer content that doesn’t require real-time response or attendance, and are most effective when learning actually feels meaningful.
Technology can help with this. With the right tools, your team can continue learning together, even if you can’t log in at the same time. Features like mobile access, offline viewing, progress tracking, and automatic reminders make learning easier for distributed teams. When companies recognize and respect the different needs of distributed teams during the holidays, it creates a positive learning environment that feels human-centered.
5+1 secrets for effective remote holiday learning
1. Implement self-paced learning
Holiday schedules can be unpredictable. Some employees may take vacations, while others may want to work shorter hours. However, thanks to self-paced learning, everyone can learn at their own pace. Self-paced learning includes short, focused modules such as videos, quizzes, templates, and mini-projects. These make learning feel less like an obligation and more like fun. Additionally, you want to create these modules based on interests, goals, or job duties, giving employees control over their development. When employees are allowed to choose what they want to learn, they become more engaged.
2. Creating seasonal learning activities
Holiday learning can be fun and light-hearted, incorporating seasonal learning activities and elements that add a festive touch to engage your employees. Try sending out an Advent email campaign with daily learning tips, or a “12-day microlearning” program. A holiday-themed skill-building contest can also be fun and engaging. Seasonal visuals like snowflakes, warm colors, and winter illustrations can help make learning feel special. This approach shows that learning is about growth and celebration, not pressure.
3. Leverage mobile learning for on-the-go access
During the holiday season, people often go outdoors. For example, traveling, shopping, visiting friends and family, etc. Mobile learning offers many opportunities to learn on the go. If your courses are designed for mobile devices, your employees can learn anytime, anywhere. Download lessons to access them offline, save content for later, or quickly complete short lessons between tasks. Make sure your mobile lessons include large, easy-to-read text, require minimal typing, provide simple navigation and easy-to-understand buttons, include short videos with subtitles, and have an optional audio format for learning as you walk. A mobile-first approach makes learning easy even during busy holiday schedules.
4. Integration of social learning
Distributed teams seek connection, even if they are in different time zones. Social learning tools create this sense of community during the holidays. These tools include discussion boards with holiday-themed topics, group reflections on what you accomplished and learned this year, and skill-sharing sessions where employees teach each other. Even better, social learning doesn’t have to happen at the same time. These activities help your team feel connected, even if they’re spread out across the world.
5. Use of data for personalization
Holiday learning is most effective when tailored to each employee. Many learning platforms now leverage data and AI for this level of personalization, connecting people with content that aligns with their goals and performance. For example, employees who want to develop specific skills, struggle with communication, or are exploring new career paths may be offered courses tailored to their needs. Personalization makes holiday learning more meaningful, increases motivation, and helps employees feel recognized and supported in their long-term growth.
6. Encouraging “light” learning options
It’s common to have a hard time concentrating during the holidays. Therefore, they prefer quick and easy learning in a simple format. For example, infographics, checklists, short podcasts or videos, quick tips sent through internal messaging tools, and mini-quizzes in your celebratory design can be very effective. Employees can enjoy and complete their work quickly and without stress.
What can managers do to increase participation in holiday learning?
Clear and flexible expectations
Employees need to know whether holiday learning is optional, recommended, or part of a long-term development plan. This should be clearly communicated to employees to reduce confusion and make it easier for employees to schedule their time. However, flexibility is key. Vacation is a time of personal and cultural diversity. Therefore, companies should avoid imposing strict deadlines or learning requirements.
Evaluation and rewards
Small rewards can make the celebration more appealing and increase motivation. For example, you can try digital badges, certificates of completion, friendly competitions, raffles for achievement of learning goals, or New Year’s greetings from leaders. Public perception often has a powerful influence. It strengthens a culture that celebrates learning rather than forcing it on people.
supportive learning culture
When managers engage in learning themselves, employees follow. Leaders who share their reflections and complete modules create a warm and inclusive environment. A strong learning culture fosters curiosity, experimentation, and psychological safety. When employees feel supported, they’re more likely to engage in learning, both on vacation and throughout the year.
conclusion
When companies offer thoughtful holiday learning experiences, they’re giving their teams a gift that lasts beyond the holidays. Employees return feeling more confident, motivated, and aligned. Teams feel more connected, even when they are apart. And organizations enter the new year with energy, skills, commitment and purpose. Remote holiday learning is more than just a year-end task, it’s a strategic benefit and way to celebrate that supports your employees when they need it most.
