Welcome to October!
If you’re anything like me, it’s not that you don’t want to do something fun with your team — it’s that Q4 sneaks up on you before you even realize it’s pumpkin-spice season.
That’s why this month, I want to make your job easier by giving you a few simple ways to bring connection, laughter, and appreciation into your workday.
Why This Matters
October is the season of long to-do lists, performance reviews, and end-of-year goals colliding with school events and travel plans. It’s a lot.
And yet, those moments of shared laughter — the silly costume contest, the quick thank-you note, the five-minute game in a meeting — are the glue that holds a team together. They remind us that work can be meaningful and joyful at the same time.
Watch: 8 Virtual Halloween Activities for Your Team
In this video, I share eight simple virtual Halloween activity ideas you can try at work — whether your team is in the office, remote, or hybrid.
These are low-effort, high-fun ideas that help your people connect and recharge without adding to your plate. Watch the full video here.
A Few Favorite Ideas
Here are three of my personal favorites from the video:
1️⃣ Virtual Kids’ Costume Contest
People working from home? Invite team members to introduce their kids (or pets!) in costume during a quick virtual gathering. If kids are at school, just have them share a photo, of their kids costumes! Instant smiles.
2️⃣ “Seasons Past” Costume Throwback
Ask everyone to share a favorite photo from a past Halloween. You’ll laugh, cringe, and realize how much you’ve all grown.
More Fun In-Person Activities
Trick, Treat & Department Meet-and-Greet!
Here’s a great way to spark connection and a few good laughs in the office.
Give each department a small budget to decorate their space and stock up on candy. Then, invite staff to “trick-or-treat” from one department to another. Bonus points if each area hosts a short Halloween activity or game.
Are your departments in different locations? Have each team throw their own mini celebration, take photos, and share them across the organization. It’s a simple way to connect people through fun, no matter where they work.
Classic Halloween Games (Work Edition)
Want to make it even more festive? Try one or two of these simple, timeless games:
• Bobbing for Apples: Fill a plastic tub or sink with water and see who can grab an apple using only their mouth.
• Donut on a String: Hang donuts from the ceiling and challenge people to eat one — hands-free!
• Pumpkin Carving: Or if pumpkins are scarce, carve whatever fruits or veggies you have on hand.
• Cookie Decorating: Bring ghost- or pumpkin-shaped cookies and frosting for a quick creative break.
• Pin the Broom on the Witch: A Halloween twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
• Candy Corn Count: Fill a jar with candy and have people guess how many pieces are inside. (Closest guess wins the jar!)
• Halloween Movie Break: Stream a short classic — like Disney’s The Headless Horseman — and bring popcorn.
• Thriller Dance-Off: Yes, really. Challenge teams to perform their best one-minute Thriller routine — and film it!
Candy Catch-Up
This one’s simple but surprisingly powerful.
Bring a small bag of candy or baked treats to your one-on-ones or team meetings this week and next. Fill a plastic pumpkin with goodies (and a few no-sugar options) and carry it with you.
If you have remote team members, mail them a little bag of candy or ask a local teammate to drop some off. Add a quick thank-you message — or better yet, one of the Halloween Thank You Cards linked above — to make it personal.
A small, sweet gesture can go a long way in showing people they’re seen and appreciated.
4 Halloween Thank You Cards
To make appreciation a little more fun this season, I’ve created 4 shareable Halloween Thank You Cards you can use with your team.
Each one is a playful reminder that recognition doesn’t need to be complicated — or formal. Sometimes it’s just:
“It scares me how good you are at your job!”
“You’re better than my pumpkin spice latte!”
You can download all four below — then print, share digitally, or text them to your team.
Activity idea: Print or send the cards to your team and ask everyone to send one to a teammate and one to someone from another department. It’s a quick, meaningful way to build appreciation across your organization.
Final Thought
Sometimes the simplest gestures — a laugh, a thank-you, a shared moment — can shift an entire team’s energy. So whether you try one Halloween activity or all eight, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s connection.
Want more practical ways to recognize, engage, and grow your people?
Sign up for The Nudge below or use the contact form to get in touch.
