A Simple Way to Help Your Team Start January Clear, Calm and Ready
I understand the pressures of December more than most.
Before I launched Semper Hopkins, I spent years in a corporate career in food retail, and December was always the busiest month of the year. Closing out sales targets… planning for the following year… analysing performance… preparing range changes… reviewing staffing… the lists were endless.
I remember that constant feeling of running — trying to finish the year strong while already thinking three steps ahead.
What I didn’t realise at the time was how little space there was to actually breathe.
To pause.
To think clearly.
To connect as a team rather than simply push through together.
That’s why I’m so passionate about the work I do now.
Because I know, from lived experience, what it feels like when your team is stretched, tired and craving a moment of calm — especially in December.
And I also know how different things feel when you give people the space to slow down, reset and come back with clarity.
A creative pause isn’t just “a nice thing to do.”
It’s the thing that gives people room to breathe, reconnect, and think about what really matters — both now and for the year ahead.
Why a Creative Pause Matters for Teams
When teams are constantly “on”, performance might look fine on the surface — but underneath, people can feel:
- overwhelmed and mentally tired
- disconnected from each other
- stuck in “doing” mode with little space for thinking and creativity
A well-designed creative team building workshop in Cheshire or the North West does something different. It takes people out of their usual environment, slows the pace down and gives them something hands-on and absorbing to focus on.
Instead of another meeting, they’re making something.
Instead of staring at a screen, they’re working with beautiful materials.
Instead of surface-level small talk, they’re having real, meaningful conversations.
Julia from Apollo Care summed it up perfectly after their team day:
“Our team had a really inspiring and productive day. Emma and her team were really helpful and so welcoming. The venue is such a beautiful and unique building. Thank you, Emma.”
These words mean so much — and they reflect exactly why a creative pause can have such a powerful impact, especially in December.
Three Simple Ways to Support Your Team in December
Even before you book a team building workshop, there are simple things you can do to support your team and help them step into January feeling clearer and calmer.
1. Build in micro-pauses, not just meetings
Encourage 10–15 minute breaks between back-to-back calls.
A short reset helps people think more clearly and avoid that “running on empty” feeling.
2. Celebrate the wins before you plan the next goals
It’s easy to jump straight into 2025 or 2026 planning — but pausing to acknowledge what went well increases motivation, confidence and connection.
3. Create space to think, not just do
Teams need thinking time, not just task time.
Whether it’s a creative session, reflection questions or a quiet hour blocked out — space is what creates clarity, ideas and better decisions.
Small things. Big impact.
How Our Workshops Help Teams Reset
If your team needs that space this December — or early next year — a Creative Pause workshop could be exactly what they need.
We offer creative team building workshops across Cheshire and the North West, including:
- hands-on leathercraft
- upholstered noticeboards
- festive wreath-making
- and seasonal creative sessions
Each session is:
- fully facilitated
- calm, grounding and enjoyable
- designed to strengthen team connection
- structured around wellbeing and creative confidence
- available in our cosy converted chapel studio or brought directly into your workplace
Teams leave feeling:
- calmer and more grounded
- more connected
- re-energised and ready for January
- proud of what they’ve created
Ready to Help Your Team Start January Clear, Calm and Ready?
If December feels intense and you know your team could benefit from a reset, we still have a couple of December dates left — and we’re now booking into early 2025.
We host in our beautiful Cheshire chapel studio, or we can bring a Creative Pause directly into your city-centre office anywhere in the North West.
From leather keyrings to wreaths and noticeboards, every session is designed to support team wellbeing, connection and performance.
👉 Explore workshops & check availability
Or simply send an email to Emma at hello@shupholstery.co.uk we’ll help you plan something that feels right for your team.
