The Holiday Wrap-Up

How to wind down and tie up all those loose ends so you can fully relax and enjoy the holidays

As every entrepreneur knows all too well, it’s so easy to just keep working. We struggle to turn off, shut down and otherwise prioritize downtime in favour of crossing just one more thing off our never-ending to-do list. Many of us also fear that if we take time away that everything we’ve built will come crumbling down in our absence.

In reality, of course, that is not true and what I’ve come to realize is this; that to-do list will never end! There will literally always be something you could be doing for your business, but taking breaks and vacation time is an absolute must or you will burn out faster than that one string of lights on your Christmas tree.

The holidays especially are a time for being PRESENT with the ones we love. How can we do that if our minds are always back at work? Here’s a quick checklist you can use before your holiday break to ensure you can confidently shut down, knowing all your loose ends are wrapped up and you are also set up for a smooth transition when you resume business again; walking into the new year strong and ready to go!

Communicate With Clients

I tell all my clients about any vacation plans at least one month ahead, then remind them again two weeks ahead, one week ahead and on my last day. This way there is no room for misunderstanding about when I’ll be off and ensures my clients have enough time to request any last work they’d like completed before I sign off.

Plan Ahead

I take a look at my calendar and plan my work two weeks out from my vacation so that all the projects I need to wrap up can get tied up in a nice little bow before I disappear. I also use that time to make a schedule and to-do list for when my vacation is over so I can start right back into work strong, with less “catch-up” waiting for me.

If it gives you anxiety to completely ghost on your business, plan social content to run while you’re on vacation. This keeps your business top of mind for others, even while you’re sipping wine by the fire 😊

Take Care of the Admin

The tasks that always go on the backburner but must get done for you to fully close out the year, your lingering admin! This includes:

· Aending out any last proposals, contracts, intake forms, etc. for upcoming projects that will start after your holiday.

· Reviewing your financials and sending any last invoices and/or following-up on any outstanding payments.

· Clearing that inbox; responding to emails, DMs and other messages, filing emails into their appropriate folders, deleting the junk and following-up with any outstanding leads.

· Clearing your computer and physical desktop; it will help clear your mind as well.