How to Survive the Christmas Crazy Without Burning Out
I do not like Christmas.
Controversial, I know — but every year I struggle, and every year I retreat to a very dark place. For me, the guilt, the spending, the pressure, the chaos… it all far outweighs the “magic.” If I could disappear for the month of December to some remote cabin where nobody could find me, trust me, I’d be gone.
The biggest problem? It feels like I don’t get a choice. The guilt — from others and from myself — hits me every time.
But this post isn’t about my Christmas issues. That’s a topic for another time, another platform, and probably another therapist. And honestly, what does any of that have to do with websites or tech?
This post is about the end-of-year pressure we pile onto ourselves in business.
Every December, I watch people slip into this frantic pre-Christmas panic where everything — absolutely everything — suddenly must be “sorted” before the 25th. The house must be spotless, the beds freshly changed, the hair done, the nails perfect.
Why?
The year doesn’t reset like a computer. Life doesn’t magically reinvent itself on Christmas morning. We’ll still be changing the beds, cleaning the house, answering emails, and sorting our businesses in January… just like usual.
(If you need a better way to actually get back time, you might like my post on finding the hidden hours in your day.)
I clean my house on Mondays. So on 22nd December, it’ll be cleaned. And on 29th December, it’ll be cleaned again. Like usual.
I change my beds on Sundays. So they’ll be changed on 21st December. And again on 28th December. Like usual.
My hair? Booked for 6th January — a treat for surviving Christmas and a solid six months since I last coloured it. And honestly, I spend most of Christmas in joggers complaining that I’ve eaten too much cheese, so who exactly am I getting glam for?
And it’s exactly the same in business.
Every year I see business owners push themselves to burnout trying to “clear the decks” so they can take a guilt-free break. But when you run your own business, nothing ever sits in a perfect little box, tied up with a bow.
Yes, I’ll take a few days off over Christmas. But not at the expense of my wellbeing in December. I don’t take bookings between Christmas and New Year, but I will keep the small things ticking over — checking emails, writing blog posts, keeping my accounts up to date, tidying my files. These are normal weekly tasks, and I have no intention of cramming them all into the week before Christmas. I simply have too much else going on.
And this is really the point I’m making:
If you’d like to make these little weekly tasks lighter, here are a few posts that help:
The Ultimate Tech Maintenance Routine — brilliant for staying on top of accounts, updates, backups
The 10-Minute Tech Tidy-Up — ideal for file tidying and quick wins
A Weekly Digital Reset — your calm, simple rhythm for staying organised
Do, Delegate, Delete for Email Overload — perfect for keeping inbox stress low
What I’m trying to say is this:
I don’t believe in sprint-then-collapse cycles. I like to keep everything gently ticking over all year round — steady momentum, no dramatic “get everything done before Christmas” stress.
I keep on top of my emails daily.
I know what’s happening in my accounts.
My files stay organised.
My desk gets cleaned.
(If “steady momentum” sounds dreamy, here’s how to build that habit: 12 Ways to Be More Consistent in Your Business.)
Because when you maintain steady systems all year long, December doesn’t have to break you.
My momentum is consistent. Not perfect. Not glamorous. Not festive. But steady — and enough.
