Thruggling Through the Holidays: Managing Jobsite Stress in a Season That Stretches Everyone Thin

30 Second Takeaway

December adds emotional and physical strain to already demanding jobsites. Many workers are “thruggling,” doing their jobs well while running on limited energy. By slowing the pace slightly, acknowledging seasonal stress, and encouraging small recovery moments, leaders can reduce risk, improve communication, and help crews enter the new year stronger.

A Season That Feels Festive and Frantic

Holiday decorations appear in site trailers, ugly sweaters show up on Fridays, and the jobsite takes on a familiar December tone: part festive, part frantic, and part focused on getting projects wrapped up before year-end shutdowns.

For many workers, the holidays don’t feel like a break. They feel like an added layer of pressure. Daylight shortens, workloads tighten, weather complicates tasks, and emotions tend to run higher.

In construction and crane operations, this seasonal strain often goes unspoken even though nearly everyone is experiencing some version of it.

Understanding “Thruggling” on the Jobsite

Thruggling is the uncomfortable overlap of thriving and struggling at the same time. It is performing well at work while feeling depleted personally. It is enjoying parts of the season while dreading others. It is keeping the crane moving while life outside the fence line feels stuck.

And it is normal.

Research on seasonal changes shows that winter months are associated with increased fatigue, lower motivation, and disrupted sleep — even among healthy, non-clinical populations. When combined with physical labor, irregular schedules, financial pressure, and family obligations, it is no surprise many workers feel stretched thin.

Clearing Up a Common Holiday Mental Health Myth

There is a widespread belief that the holidays are the most dangerous time of year for mental health. Research tells a more nuanced story.

Peer-reviewed studies indicate that suicide rates are actually lowest in December and tend to peak in spring and early summer. This does not mean December is easy it means the nature of stress changes.

Instead of acute crisis, workers often experience overwhelm, irritability, exhaustion, loneliness, and a persistent sense of falling behind. On a jobsite, those emotional states can directly affect communication, attention, and safety.

Construction workers carry additional risk year-round. National data consistently shows higher suicide rates in construction and extraction occupations compared to many other industries, driven by factors such as long hours, physical strain, job insecurity, and limited recovery time.

When December arrives with added expectations and disrupted routines, many workers are not just struggling they are thruggling.

Managing Thruggling Before It Impacts Safety

Thruggling is manageable, but not by ignoring it or pushing harder until something breaks. The most effective responses are practical, realistic, and grounded in how jobsites actually operate.

Below are three evidence-informed strategies leaders can use to support crews through the holidays and reduce the December-to-January stress hangover.

Slow the Pace Just Enough to Stay Safe

December always creates tension between schedule pressure and seasonal reality. Expecting summer-level productivity during winter conditions increases errors, strains attention, and elevates stress responses.

Slowing the pace does not mean stopping work. It means being slightly more intentional during a time when people are already more fatigued.

Questions leaders should be asking include:

• Are we expecting July productivity in December conditions?

• Are we pushing tasks that require full concentration when workers are visibly tired?

• Are subtle signs of fatigue being overlooked?

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Even small adjustments in expectations can prevent injuries, improve judgment, and protect both crews and schedules.

Name the Season and Lower the Emotional Temperature

Crews do not need forced holiday cheer. They need acknowledgment.

Construction workers often navigate financial pressure, complex family dynamics, grief, loneliness, overtime demands, and burnout all amplified during the holidays.

Simple, genuine statements from supervisors can significantly shift crew dynamics:

• “I know a lot of people are thruggling right now.”

• “This is a heavy season. We’ll get through it together.”

• “If this month is weighing on you, you’re not alone.”

  
  

Naming the reality reduces tension and makes it easier for workers to speak up when something feels off.

It also matters because January is often the hidden pressure point. Holiday bills arrive, routines shift again, and motivation drops. Addressing emotional strain openly in December can prevent issues from compounding in the new year.

Encourage Small, Repeatable Recovery Moments

Not every worker can take extended time off, but everyone benefits from recovery especially in winter.

Research shows that short, consistent breaks are often more effective than infrequent long ones. In colder months with limited daylight, micro-recovery becomes critical.

Encourage practical habits such as:

• Five-minute reset breaks

• A warm drink before a demanding task

• A short walk to clear mental clutter

• Listening to one song before the drive home

• Brief, genuine check-ins

  
  

These are not wellness programs. They are realistic tools that help regulate stress and maintain focus.

Thruggling Is Normal But It Doesn’t Have to Run the Jobsite

The holidays bring a complex mix of excitement, pressure, weather challenges, and disrupted routines to crane and construction jobsites.

Thruggling is where most workers land during this season. The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to manage it with awareness, predictability, and humanity.

When leaders slow the pace just enough to stay safe, acknowledge the season out loud, and support small recovery moments, crews move through the holidays with fewer mistakes, less conflict, and greater stability.

That is good for workers, good for morale, and good for the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “thruggling” mean in construction work?

It describes the experience of performing well at work while simultaneously feeling stressed, fatigued, or overwhelmed a common state during the holiday season.

Why is holiday stress a safety concern on jobsites?

Fatigue, emotional strain, and reduced focus can impact communication, decision-making, and hazard awareness in high-risk environments.

Is December the most dangerous month for mental health?

No. Research shows suicide rates are lowest in December, but stress, exhaustion, and overwhelm often increase and can affect performance and safety.

How can supervisors support crews during the holidays?

By slightly adjusting pace expectations, acknowledging seasonal stress, and encouraging small, consistent recovery practices.