How to come to terms with working Xmas Day ☹️

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Hello,

Working Xmas day, not able to change this and just looking for others who work Xmas Day's tips and experiences? What do you do to still celebrate the day? I'm a nurse so it is a long 12 hour shift. Feeling really down about it tbh but this is the choice we make in this profession unfortunately!

What is your private situation? Children - how old? Married? Split? How would you usually spend Christmas day?

You celebrate on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. If you have kids tell them that you got special permission from Father Christmas to let them open their presents early! You can make up a fancy letter to back up your claim!

Also, thank you for what you are doing. I am only one voice, but I appreciate you and your profession.

Easier said than done but if it were me I’d just move the whole day. Obviously I don’t know if you have young kids etc which would make it more tricky

Your family event: create another big day on the bit between Xmas and new year

The Xmas day itself: lean in, make it enjoyable for the patients, think about what you can do to make it special.

Christmas is a season not a day. (That's how I cope with not always having my kids on Christmas day - we do loads of christmassy stuff before and after instead)

I always enjoyed working Christmas Day. Presumably you are not working 24 hours? You can enjoy Christmas lunch before a night shift or look forward to supper after a day shift.

When I worked shifts Bank Holiday working meant double time and time off in lieu of working. I can’t imagine that is still the case though.

When I was younger I loved working Christmas Day. It was a real joy and honour making it special for the people I cared for.

these days as I have family I would probably find it more difficult but I’d just swap my Christmas Day and celebrate a day earlier.

I work 1in 3 Christmas days.
We prep in advance, freeze roasties etc, make gravy, etc.

I would have my Christmas Day on boxing instead, and do lots of Christmassy things before and after.
My Dad went into hospital on Christmas Day a few years ago. I was so grateful for the selfless lovely people looking after him. Thank you.

It's shit. There's no getting around it but I'd definitely try and make the time you do have off full of things that will make you happy.

I'd definitely move the main day to Xmas Eve or Boxing Day (or whenever suits) and have my full Christmas Dinner then.

Depending on children / ages etc I'd think about gift giving. Will you have any time on Christmas day? (Assume you'll be put the house for closer to 13+ hours)

You just need to shift things about a bit - logistically and emotionally.

How you plan it will depend a lot on what days you have off around Christmas and who you are celebrating with.

Where exactly do you work? I have had very nice Christmases working in hospitals- everyone is in the same boat and trying to make it ‘nice’ for the patients and each other.

I’m sure those unfortunate enough to be in hospital over Christmas will be extremely grateful to you. In your circumstances, I think I’d do presents on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Dinner on Boxing Day. I’ve moved Christmas Dinner before to accommodate visitors - it’s fine, and it’s still just as “Christmassy”.

I quite like it in the nhs (dr) as its always such a Xmas spirit and positivity. Just get family to do a 2nd Xmas it's what I've always done

Does irritate me that I've worked 8/10 Xmas since I've graduated as we have no choice in the matter and can't argue "I did last yr" as it was a different hospital.

Wish we did split shifts like theatre staff do. Or if the nurses didn't always go "did u choose to work Xmas for the extra money like I did?" Constantly... no we don't chose to, no we get no additional pay (only an 8h lieu day for working a 13h shift and zilch if xmas falls on a weekend)

Oh also irritates me can't just split the days up, most places make u do 13h days or nights from 23,24,25,26th). Or if it does get split it was the year I was living 6h from home each way so couldn't do Xmas even though I had it off as was working 24th and 26th and didn't want a 12h drive on Xmas day itself so spent it alone

Boo

I’ve worked the past couple of Xmas days and DH is a shift worker . We just move our Xmas around . Past couple of years we’ve done Xmas dinner on Xmas Eve . Our DD is preteen now so understands moving Xmas around and she comes to work with me Xmas day and enjoys it .

We've often had Christmas on the 'wrong' day due to work or elderly family being ill and in hospital. When the children were small they had their little stockings on the day and really loved that they got presents on more than one day. (They're adults now.) This year its going to be the 27th as that fits in with when adult children are free and visiting relatives in care homes.

I have worked Christmas Day for 9 out of the last 15 years. I actually really enjoy it. There's a special atmosphere about being part of a little Christmas team I think.

We just celebrate on Boxing Day or the 27th. Even now I have small children it's been no trouble - they don't know what day it is really - and they were allowed to stay up late last year so we could do some presents when I got home, sort of added to a magical extended Christmas day. They know what I do for a living and know I have to be at work sometimes, they're fine with it.

I hope you can enjoy it a bit - hopefully next year you won't be scheduled on

Dd is a nurse and always works Christmas Day.
she loves it!!
she just moves her Christmas around to fit in with her shifts

It’s just a day, do like everyone else does and celebrate another day. I have a nurse and police officer and it happens every year at least one if not both work.

Nurses generally work 12h shifts, which practically are longer with travel time, change in and out of uniform, handover at both ends. Not sure I would want Christmas dinner at 6am or 9pm

I’ve worked it a few times and it was fine. Christmas Day is probably my least favourite day of the holidays anyway, I’d rather enjoy the build up and Christmas Eve if possible.

My mum was a nurse and my aunt a midwife. It was totally fine for us as kids (probably knackering for her). We did presents early when we were very young and moved to after she got back when we were older. We stayed up late to see her when we were young and we did our big meal on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day depending on shifts. Honestly never bothered us at all.

edited to add: this all hinged on the fact my dad was ace. Shared the house and childcare equally. Cooked prepped etc. If he’d been the kind of man child I read about on here it would not have been so fine.

We just hold family Christmas on another day when I have to work Christmas (also a nurse)

A 12 is harsh. We usually do a split early/late in Xmas day. Is there no chance you could do that?
when I’ve worked the full day before we just shift the whole event back a day. Celebrate Xmas day on Boxing Day.

Hello! Fellow emergency service worker here! I’ve worked every Christmas and Boxing Day for the past 5 years as we can only apply for it off the October a year before, for example for this December we had to apply on 1st October 2024, we all set up Automatic emails to be sent at midnight on the 1st of October however Microsoft then sort it out in alphabetical order If they are all received at the same time and as my Surname begins with M. I’m pretty far down the list and guaranteed to not get it off! It’s pretty unfair how it’s done and it’s been raised every year, but I just get told try again next year. If we send it at 23:59 on the 30 of September it gets rejected!

Our shifts are also 12 hours, 7 am to 7 pm or 7 pm to 7 am. I don’t know if this is an option at your workplace, but I tend to speak to my boss And ask if I can take my break at the end of the shift (Not supposed to but given the circumstances of the day being forced and not by choice, they tend to be a little bit more flexible).

Most people at my workplace are in the same boat as me, so we always arrange to bring food in and try to make the most of it if we can. I don’t know if you have children, My DD is 14, Christmas isn’t as magical now she’s in her teenage years but It still does upset her that I’m not there. As soon as I get home, we make the most of it, she will also video call me whilst I’m at work to open some of her presents and then wait for me To come home To open the others. She tends to go to my parents on Christmas Eve so there is some normality for her and Christmas magic.

I've worked loads of christmases. Most recently 24 hours on call.

My family are brilliant and just moved Christmas around (in fact it worked quite well for siblings with partners could do christmas with their family on Christmas Day and then boxing day christmas with our family). This does rely on travelling distances working out. I now live 400 miles away so can't just drive to my family members on Boxing Day.

On the day itself I usually buy nice food to have when I get in and take treats in to eat while on shift. There is usually a lot of food around and some hospitals give you a cooked christmas lunch gratis.

At work the team usually dress up a bit and try to make it fun. Do beware though that this can land badly. Doing the "death chat" to relatives while wearing a santa hat is inappropriate.

If I'm on call I usually plan to go in even if I'm not needed to leave some cakes and treats. In the past I've organised personalised presents for everyone working but I didn't do that the last Christmas I worked. For my hospital new year is actually more restrictive we have to be on site for most of the night as the location makes getting there difficult during the festivities. Last time I did even cycling home at 4am was unpleasant/ felt a little unsafe ( and I often cycle home overnight when on call).