This board is a fun winter wrap-up activity walking your team through some of the year's highlights, reflections, things we want to let go of, and things we want to bring forward into the new year.

This is a simple, sticky note based board, which makes it easy for anyone to use. Though designed for a UX Research team, it really is team agnostic and can be used by any group. You can adjust the time brackets provided to your needs. The duration for this can span from 30-60 minutes.

Instructions: Winter Wonderland Wrap-Up

Icebreaker (3 minutes) – Your Winter Self

Write on a sticky or choose an icon, sticker, picture, whatever to represent your winter self. It could be a cup of hot cocoa, mittens, Rudolph, a snowflake – whatever you think best represents you this time of year

·      2 minute warm up

·      1 minute share out

Snow Flurries (10 minutes) – Explore Snowflakes of Joy, Snowdrift Surprises, and Cozy Fireside

For each station, complete the following:

Snowflakes of Joy – what are some moments, things, persons, ideas, etc. that brought you joy at work this year? What made you smile or feel energized? Choose a sticky, write your response, and place it around the igloo.

Snowdrift Surprises – What surprised you pleasantly or productively? Grab a “Snowball” (Sticky note) and write it down. Drop them in the snow to make our snowdrift

Cozy Fireside – What warmed you up this year? What gave you a moment you feel proud of? It can be a project, insight, personal growth moment.

·      6 minute station rotation (about 2 minutes per station)

·      4 minute share out

Cabin Reset (5 minutes)

What are we letting go this year? What will we let melt away? It could be something that drained you, a habit or mindset you want to release, or maybe a pattern that didn’t serve you.

·      3 minute writing

·      2 minute share out

Lanterns for the New Year (5 minutes)

What guiding light do you want to carry into 2026? What’s something you want more of?

·      3 minute writing

·      2 minute share out

Winter Presents Rotation (5 minutes)

Everyone shares one “Mug of Good Cheer” with someone else and one “Gift of UX Future”

Mug of Good Cheer

Share a “Mug of Good Cheer” with someone who has warmed you and kept you going this year. Give a shout out to someone on the team.

Gifts of UX Future

Give yourself a future gift. Plant seeds for next year by making a resolution. Write a gift tag for Future You, something you want to give yourself next year. It can be things like a skill, a mindset, a reminder, a little encouragement – whatever you would like to kindly gift yourself.

Close and Gratitude (2 minutes)