The holiday season is upon us, and this year, new research from monday.com, the multi-product platform that runs all core aspects of work, reveals that Australian workers are challenging the traditional year-end slowdown. Five key trends have emerged in the run-up to the festive season:  

TREND 1. Wrapping up projects, not presents – holiday productivity surge in Australia

According to new research, 52% of Australian workers report a boost in productivity during the holiday season, and 29% stated they are “very productive as they focus on finishing the year strong.” Only 14% experience reduced productivity and 34% maintain steady productivity levels. Among those who feel more productive, 29% credit their drive to finish the year strong and 24% are motivated by key deadlines.

TREND 2: Tis the season to be creative 

Almost half (46%) of Australian employees feel inspired by the holiday season, sparking a wave of creativity. This trend however is largely driven by younger generations, with Gen-Z’s (59%) and Millennials (51%) over twice as likely to feel inspired as Baby Boomers (22%). However, for 30% of Australian workers, it can also have the opposite effect, with about a fifth (19%) focused on finishing tasks rather than being creative and 11% feeling fatigued and just pushing through to reach the holiday break. 

TREND 3. Australians disconnecting for holiday cheer

Australian workers aim to balance productivity with work-life priorities this holiday season, with 59% of respondents feeling encouraged to fully disconnect from work. A closer breakdown reveals that 32% are fully able to disconnect, while another 26% are encouraged to disconnect, but choose to remain slightly connected. However, 16% report not feeling encouraged to disconnect. 

Disconnecting from work also varies across generations – Gen Z workers (24%) are the least likely to feel fully encouraged to disconnect, compared to Millennials (33%), Gen X (36%) and Baby Boomers (36%). Instead, Gen-Z’s are more likely to remain partly engaged, with 31% feeling encouraged to disconnect, but still stay connected to work occasionally – compared to 29% of Millenials, 24% of Gen-X and 16% of Baby Boomers. It is senior workers however that are not fully stepping away from work, with Baby Boomers (20%), almost double as likely than Gen-Z’s (11%), do not feel encouraged to disconnect during the holidays.

TREND 4. New Year, New Career Goals for younger workers

As the holiday season comes to an end, for many Australians it is a time to think big, leveraging the fresh start to motivate significant change. Most Australian workers (74%) will embrace the ‘new year, new me’ mindset, turning their focus to opportunities for the year ahead and beyond. Among those embracing the mindset:

• 24% use the new year as an opportunity to set ambitious goals for both work and personal life, motivating themselves for a big fresh start
• 28% focus on smaller, realistic changes rather than major resolutions, guiding their approach for the year
• 22% believe the new year inspires some reflection, but prefer to make changes throughout the year rather than all at once

The generational divide is again apparent in how Australian workers will be approaching 2025, with 88% of Gen Z and 78% of Millennials embracing The New Year New Me approach. Baby Boomers however, are significantly less likely to have their professional and personal goals influenced by a ‘new year mindset’, with the majority (54%) stating they don’t subscribe to this approach and are sticking to their current routines and goals.

TREND 5. Tech helping workers to sleigh the pre-holiday to-do list

The majority (71%) of Australian workers are using technology and automation tools – like scheduling apps, project management software, and automated reminders – to help them navigate the demands of the festive season. Australian workers are leveraging tech solutions in a diverse number of ways and seeing a positive impact on their work habits. 26% use these tools to help them stay organised, but don’t find they directly increase productivity, 25% are using them to help get more work done in less time, boosting overall productivity when it’s needed most, and 20% appreciate the stress relief they offer from automating tasks. 

Dean Swan, Regional Vice President & GM APJ at monday.com, comments: “Australians traditionally take extended leave over the festive period, but before they head on their summer breaks, they are hard at work and redefining holiday season productivity. By blending creativity, technology, and a drive to finish strong,  they are proving this time of year is not just about winding down, but also stepping up. For Australian businesses, supporting employee well-being and providing flexibility during this time is key to sustaining morale and reducing burnout. An increased focus on finding solutions that drive automation, improve collaboration, and enable faster, data-driven decision-making – can help to foster a more balanced and productive end to the year.”