The 12 Days Of Christmas
The holiday season is upon us — and most of us are ready for a well-deserved break. I bring this up for two reasons. First, there’s solid evidence that time away from work supports the body and mind: vacations improve sleep, reduce stress, and increase positive mood and life satisfaction.
Recent meta-analyses and reviews confirm these benefits and show they can last well beyond the trip itself. Second, large-scale data analyses have found that employees who actually take their allotted vacation are, on average, somewhat more likely to receive raises or promotions — although this is a correlation (other factors such as role, visibility, and network matter). Importantly, the benefits come when people truly detach and recover during their time off — not when they keep working from the beach.
The second reason is specifically for expat professionals. While the holidays may be a joy and happiness for most people, they can be quite bittersweet for the lonely expat. Let’s call this “lonely hearts club syndrome.” That is because some of you may be unable to return home to your families, or you may have lost loved ones around the holidays.
Or you are no longer close to your family, and your friends are all married and have kids. Maybe you haven’t made any close friends yet in Switzerland, and don’t feel like seeing your successful high school friends in the bar at home this year.
Sometimes, insufficient integration into the host culture can make it tough for mobile professionals. Even if that’s not the case, being away from loved ones can take its toll. So, if you’re a little worried about handling the holidays, here are our ideas for a Christmas on your own.
Although technically the “twelve days of Christmas” don’t start until 25 December, this year you have a good chance to have two weeks off with a small number of vacation days or overtime compensation. And if you can count, you will see we have written about more than twelve days.
I want to invite every reader and client who is not Christian to enjoy the fun around our holiday traditions with us. If you live in Switzerland, you are exposed to many traditions. For me, the birth of Jesus Christ is a symbol of the love of God in every human, for being a good human, and for giving to others and yourself. This can also mean to forgive others who have hurt your feelings. It can mean to commemorate those we lost and miss. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter what your faith is or how spiritual you are as long as you aspire to do good in the world.
Christmas is also a time to reconnect with our inner child and give it all the love it deserves. Most of my clients berate their inner child, and it would be lovely if that were changed. In your next coaching session, tell me how you made your inner child feel loved and seen during the holiday season.
Saturday, 20 December: Buy a real Christmas tree at Bahnhof Stadelhofen
Turn on the radio or listen to the “Weihnachtshits” and decorate your real Christmas tree. I like Bing Crosby’s take on Christmas. Being stuck in a foreign country during the holidays is never ideal, especially if you don’t have family or friends. A luxury not afforded to pre-internet expats, but still in no way a replacement for family and friends, is video chat. While not the ideal replacement for the people you are missing, it can allow you to keep in near-constant touch and keep the holiday spirit fresh. This can also be a perfect time to reconnect with old friends and catch up.
Sunday, 21 December: Shop on the Bahnhofstrasse
Shops are open again, so you can take advantage of the Sunday sale in the city. Stroll back via the Baur Au Lac for a nice coffee or tea. Book yourself into a concert and enjoy movie music with candlelight at the Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten.
Monday, 22 December: Decluttering Your Desk
Update your LinkedIn profile with Nabeha Latif’s tips. https://globalpeopletransitions.com/top-ten-tips-for-a-killer-linkedin-profile/
Clean your desk with a cup of hot cocoa (or gluehwein).
- throw out old files,
- clean up your computer,
- update your task lists,
- prepare your performance reviews,
- order that new work phone and
- Pay all your outstanding invoices.
The Annual Brain Declutter – Seven Steps to Close the Year Mentally
Tuesday, 23 December: Washing the day before Christmas
If you have been in a work frenzy during the holiday build-up, switch it off. Do all your laundry because you cannot wash between Christmas and New Year’s Day. We call this time “zwischen den Jahren” (between the years). I like this expression and did some research. You can wash laundry between Christmas and New Year — but according to old folklore, you shouldn’t, because it might bring bad luck or misfortune. (More at the end of this article.) Also, this might be the last chance to enjoy the “Wiehnachtsdorf” on Sechseläuteplatz.
https://www.wienachtsdorf.ch/programm
Wednesday, 24 December: Read a Novel to an Older Person on Christmas Eve
As far as I can remember, I’ve never spent Christmas Eve alone. You probably know I come from a big family and hardly find time to see all my relatives during Christmas week.
If I were ever alone in Zurich on Christmas Eve, I would do my grocery shopping for three days and then use the opportunity to read to someone.
Sozialwerk Pfarrer Sieber also runs a shelter for homeless people, and you could volunteer there. https://www.swsieber.ch/wie-sie-helfen/mit-zeit-oder-waren/freiwilligenarbeit/
Thursday, 25 December: Skiing on Christmas Day
After you open all your presents to yourself, why don’t you go to the mountains and check if there is a chance for a skiing day? Alternatively, you could organize a museum tour of Zurich with a lovely Christmas dinner. Please remember that many restaurants will either be very expensive or closed. Make sure you book ahead and reserve a table. And have enough food at home so you can always eat your Christmas dinner at home.
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day
This is a holiday in Zurich, so shops are closed; you could plan a spa day or go out again. For example, take the S-Train to Greifensee and walk around the lake for a while. Later, I would go to one of the nicest hotels in Zurich for afternoon tea and sip a glass of champagne. This is also a great day to host a White Elephant Gift Exchange at home to eliminate some of the “treasures” you found while cleaning up.
Saturday, 27 December: Enjoy Swiss-Greek Apéro Culture
Enjoy an aperitif at YAMAS Zurich, the little Greek restaurant with a flair for the meatpacking district and Greek hospitality. You can also check out this excellent blog for more ideas: Newinzurich.
Sunday, 28 December: Opera Night
Our opera is one of the best in the world, and it has a very festive atmosphere. You might want to book a ticket for the show “Die Fledermaus”. They also offer tours in the mornings. https://www.opernhaus.ch/spielplan/kalendarium/
Monday, 29 December: Pamper Day
Don’t forget to stock up on groceries. If you’re like me, you probably have an empty fridge by now. Book a massage with Stephanie Suter. https://www.din-momaent.ch/
Tuesday, 30 December: 2026 Outfit Selection
A cool thing to do on a cold Zurich day is to buy a 24-hour ZVV ticket and ride the trams all around the city. Extra challenge: You aren’t allowed to use your smartphone during the ride. Since the schedule has changed I cannot recommend a particular line to you but the 4,8,11 and 17 offer a good selection of sites worth seeing.
These days, the Bahnhofstrasse isn’t as crowded as usual. I wanted to check out all the second-hand stores in Zurich. Finally, I would probably buy a new 2026 outfit from Adam Brody in our neighborhood.
Wednesday, 31 December: New Year’s Eve
It’s time to let go. This will also be the day we write down everything we are grateful for in our lives and our wishes for 2026. Write down everything you wish to leave in the old year on a Farewell List and burn it (outside in a safe place). Afterwards, stroll on Lake Zurich to Zurichhorn, a nice place to spend the afternoon. You can drink champagne and celebrate at the James Joyce https://www.jamesjoyce.ch/silvester/.
Thursday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Most of you will still have a New Year’s Eve hangover and want to sleep in. To cure any headaches, I recommend fresh air and a hangover brunch. You could also drink less this year and go to the gym or do a yoga session.
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/managing-your-drinking/dry-january
Friday, 2 January: Berchthold Day with Movie Catch-Up Night
Berchtold Day is a regional holiday in many cantons (Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug, Zurich, Nidwalden), so unless you work for a foreign company that does not respect the local laws, you will probably have the day off. You could take the train to Davos and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere there. Another beautiful place I recommend is Lindau in Germany. The additional benefit of going to Lindau is that the shops will be open there.
Do you always want to go and see movies, but end up watching them on your laptop like me? Are you a cinema lover who is just too much of a nerd to go there alone? Why don’t you challenge yourself, pick a movie that you missed seeing this year, and go to the cinema for a change?
Saturday, 3 January: Setting Intentions
If you haven’t done so yet, this is the time when you should review your three major career goals in the RockMeApp and also check where you are on your learning schedule. As you know, I teach practices to help you stay focused and grounded. Check your ten practices. Are they still relevant? Do you need other practices?
What are the new learning goals? Can you evaluate your learning over the past year? Did you learn what you had promised yourself? Check your data, too. Do you have any measures of progress that you can improve on year over year? Data can be annoying if you can’t see visible progress, so you must first clarify your definition of success. Use “The Global Rockstars Goals” template to quantify what you would like to achieve with your global team in the New Year.
Sunday, 4 January: Art and Discovery Day
This will be a great day to go to the Kunsthaus or learn more about artists who lived in Zurich, such as James Joyce.
Monday, 5 January: Slow Start at Work
You wanted to start early this year and be ahead of the pack. You will return to work wondering where you left things before the holidays. It may feel more complicated than usual. Your iPad needs charging, you forgot a few passwords, and the building is only 18 degrees Celsius. This is a great day to enjoy an extended lunch with a colleague in the city. Leave the office earlier than usual and catch up on your work reading.
I love the first week of January for research and lecture preparation. Before New Year’s Eve, I’d instead catch up on novels and escapist drama. Come 3 January, my grown-up self is back and wants to take charge. Out with the magic, in with the science. Hit me with those Global Mobility reports, trend updates, and economic predictions for the new year.
Recession or no recession, investments in shares or money markets, housing prices, and conversion issues. The light shifts, and my mood, too. Also, the lecture notes need updating.
Tuesday, 6 January: Epiphany (Three Kings)
This is NOT a holiday in Zurich, so you usually have to work. One of my favourite traditions in the Swiss work environment is the Dreikönigskuchen (King’s Cake), which you can also buy at Sina’s Backstube in my neighbourhood.
https://www.sinas-backstube.ch/
This is gender neutral, so if you win the king as a female, you will be the queen for the day. What would you allow yourself to do if you were the queen? One idea I love from Downton Abbey is that the house ladies have breakfast in bed. That would be my wish for the “Queen of the Day”.
Happy Holidays from
Angie Weinberger and the GPT Team
My 12 Tested Tips for Saving Money in Zurich as a Lifestyle Expat
Appointments in 2026
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https://calendly.com/angieweinberger
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*Background: In Germany, there is an old tradition or superstition that advises people not to wash or hang laundry between Christmas and New Year’s Eve (sometimes even until January 6). This is not a law or a practical rule, but a folk belief rooted in ancient customs. The tradition is connected to the “Rauhnächte” — a period around the turn of the year that, in old pagan beliefs, was considered a time when the boundary between the human and spirit worlds grew thin.
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