Holiday Rest vs. Holiday Rush: How to Rebuild Energy Without Losing Momentum
Holiday Rest vs. Holiday Rush: How to Rebuild Energy Without Losing Momentum
Let’s be honest. December can feel like chaos for most agency owners. Everyone wants something from you. Clients, caregivers, your family, your team. You are trying to finish strong, manage the holidays, and somehow rest too.
But here is the truth I have learned after years of leading and coaching in this industry. You cannot run a business that grows if you are running on empty.
Many owners tell me they will rest once things calm down. But in this industry, things rarely calm down. So they push through, thinking that more effort means more progress. It does not.
When you are constantly reacting, you stop leading. You make rushed decisions. You miss what your business actually needs. Your team senses your stress and starts to mirror it. That is how burnout spreads from the top down.
I built my own company the hard way. I was once that owner answering messages at midnight, fixing every problem myself, and believing that rest was for later. But later never came until I made it come.
Why I Step Back Every December
Every December, I make a point to step away. It is not optional. It is leadership.
I use this time to celebrate my birthday, travel, and reset. I let my team handle the day-to-day while I focus on something equally important: high-level thinking.
This is when I look at my year, the lessons learned, and the opportunities ahead. I pray, plan, and prepare. That quiet time gives me the clarity I need to make strong decisions in the new year.
But I will be honest. I still have to remind myself that rest is earned and necessary. I have to give myself permission to rest, even when part of me feels like I should be doing more. Every time I do, I come back sharper, stronger, and more grounded in my purpose.
Rest Is a Business Strategy
Rest is not time off from growth. It is part of your growth strategy.
When you slow down, you create space for vision. You start to see what is working and what is weighing you down. You stop reacting and start realigning.
Rest does not mean being lazy. It means being intentional. It means saying, “I trust my systems, and I trust my people.” That trust frees you to lead again, not just manage.
How to Rest Without Losing Control
If you are scared that stepping away will make things fall apart, that is a sign your business still depends on you too much. And that is fixable.
Here is what I teach my clients to do before they take time off:
Build a clear plan. Write out what your team can handle and what truly needs your attention. Set expectations early.
Delegate with confidence. Assign tasks based on strengths. Give your team authority to make certain decisions. Then let them do it.
Simplify your priorities. You do not need to fix everything before the new year. Focus on what will give you peace and progress.
Schedule your reflection. Do not leave reflection to chance. Block time for it. Think about your wins, your struggles, and what needs to change.
These steps protect your peace and your business at the same time.
When I lead from rest, my decisions get sharper. My coaching gets better. My energy spreads differently.
When you create room for stillness, you hear the answers that constant motion drowns out. You see which systems work and which do not. You rediscover your “why.” You start leading again, not just operating.
Make Rest a Leadership Practice
I choose December for my time of reflection and rest. It’s become my rhythm. I use that month to celebrate my birthday, travel, and disconnect from the daily grind. I step back to think, pray, and plan for the new season ahead.
But you do not have to wait until December to do this. You can build your own rhythm of rest. It could be around your birthday, an anniversary, a personal milestone, or even a holiday that feels meaningful to you. The important thing is that you intentionally carve out time to pause, reflect, and reset.
Use that space to review your progress, realign your priorities, and ask honest questions about what is working and what is not. Step away long enough to gain perspective.
You do not need to prove your work ethic. You have already done that. This practice is about proving your wisdom. It is about knowing when to pause so you can move forward with focus.
Say This With Me
Stand in front of a mirror. Look yourself in the eyes. Take a deep breath and say these words out loud.
Speaking to yourself in the mirror may feel uncomfortable at first, but it is one of the most effective ways to build confidence and strengthen your mindset. Psychologists call this self-affirmation through mirror dialogue. When you speak to yourself with intention, you activate the areas of your brain that influence motivation and emotion. You begin to believe the words you speak because your brain interprets them as truth.
Do this often. Not just when you are tired, but when you need to remind yourself of who you are and what you are capable of.
Now say this with me:
“I give myself permission to rest, reflect, and realign whenever I need it. My peace is productive. My clarity creates direction. I lead from wisdom, not exhaustion, and I grow stronger with every pause I take.”
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