It can be hard to work on the holidays, but if you work in a hospital setting, it can also be hard to avoid. While most private practices and clinics will be closed, hospitals don’t have holiday hours—illness and injuries don’t stop because the holidays are here. If you’re scheduled for a shift this holiday season, here are five tips for making the most of your holiday while stuck at work.

Do Some Decorating

Be it the lounge or yourself, decorate for the holidays. From holiday scrubs to an adorable nursing themed garland, there are plenty of ways to spruce up your surroundings and yourself to be more festive than on an average shift. Getting in the spirit just might be the thing to boost your spirits.

Host a Potluck

Just because you can’t have a holiday dinner with your family, that doesn’t mean you can’t have one with your “work family.” Rather than a dull meal from the cafeteria, rally your coworkers to participate in a holiday potluck, featuring main dishes or sides from everyone’s religious and cultural backgrounds to ensure no one is left out.

Coordinate a Cookie Swap

If a potluck seems like too much of a commitment, try to organize a cookie swap. Invite your coworkers to bring in their favorite cookies to leave in the nurses’ lounge. If the holiday has you running from room to room and you don’t have time for a full meal, potluck style, this is a nice way to ensure everyone at least gets a treat. Homemade or store-bought, something sweet might do the trick to get you through your shift.

Make the Most of Your Breaks

Use your breaks to call or FaceTime family or friends you might be missing. Connecting with them over the phone, however briefly, might cheer you up, if you cannot be physically present. Or, spend your break commiserating with coworkers. A little venting might do you some good.

Focus on the Positive

Be it helping your patients and their families, who are also stuck in the hospital over the holiday, the hefty paycheck you’ll likely receive after your holiday shift, or knowing you’ll probably get the next holiday off, there is plenty to be thankful for. Fixate on the good, instead of the bad, and you’ll surely be a lot jollier.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.