Self-Care for Entrepreneurs: Thriving During the Holidays

As an entrepreneur, you’ve likely experienced the exhilarating highs of building your dream—and the daunting lows of burnout and exhaustion. Your passion can drive you far, but without intentional self-care, even the most dedicated visionaries risk running on empty. Drawing from My 30 Days to Better Self-Care, here are five effective strategies to help you thrive, especially during the holidays, both personally and professionally, with examples to inspire action.

1. Communication: Set Clear Expectations

Boundaries start with communication. Clearly define expectations with your team, clients, and even yourself. Communicate your working hours, project deadlines, and availability. By doing this, you create a predictable rhythm, which helps prevent misaligned demands and unnecessary stress. It helps to schedule a team meeting to establish what deliverables need to be completed before your time off. Document these action items to ensure clarity for everyone.

If you’re taking a week off for the holidays, set up an email autoresponder stating: “I will be out of the office from [date] to [date] with limited access to email. I’ll respond to your message upon my return.” And… communicate these dates beforehand to set clear expectations with everyone and become a role model for others to unplug fully as well.

2. Fire the Bad Clients

Not every client is worth the effort or revenue. Identify those who consume 80% of your time, resources, and mental bandwidth but provide little value in return. You know, these are the clients who demand work outside the scope of the contract, or that you are doing custom work for because ‘they’ve been with you since the beginning.” Politely, but firmly let them go. This liberates your mindshare and frees up time for clients and projects that align with your goals and energize you.

For those energy-draining clients who repeatedly call after hours, ignore agreed-upon deadlines, or don’t follow your advice, arrange a meeting to address these issues, and if there’s no improvement, part ways professionally, making room for you to take on clients you are excited to work with.

Don’t be afraid to calculate profitability: If you find that a client consumes triple the time of a high-value client, you may need to suggest an alternative service provider better suited to their needs. Saying goodbye to a toxic or unprofitable relationship creates space for better opportunities.

3. Focus

A week or two before heading off for a work trip or vacation, I always ask myself: “What needs to be done so I can leave my laptop behind?” Now, you might not actually leave your laptop behind, but answering this question brings your top priorities into focus so you can do those items before leaving. Create a checklist of must-finish tasks, delegate where possible, and tie up loose ends before heading out.

This focus may entail blocking your time to finalize invoices, review key projects, or respond to pressing emails. I find that before a trip, I go into what I call “hyper-productive” mode, completing projects and tasks that I may have been putting off.

By focusing on these priorities, you give yourself permission to truly unplug—your brain and body will thank you for it. A refreshed you will return with renewed clarity and energy.

4. Learn to Say No

No is a complete sentence. You don’t need to justify your actions or say yes out of a sense of obligation. Every “yes” carries a cost. When opportunities arise, assess them against your long-term goals. Does this align with what truly matters to you? If not, say no with confidence and grace.

When a colleague invites you to speak at a conference, but the timing conflicts with your business goals or personal commitments. Politely decline: “Thank you for thinking of me! I’m unable to participate this time, but please keep me in mind for future opportunities.”

Or if a friend asks for help with a non-urgent favor, you might respond with: “I’d love to support you, but my plate is full right now. Let’s reconnect in a few weeks when I can give it the attention it deserves.”

If you find that people pleasing tendencies are getting in the way of reaching your own goals, practice this: “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m unable to commit at this time.” Saying no protects your time, energy, and focus.

5. Prioritize Your Self-Care Routine

What makes you thrive? Is it a morning workout, a full night’s sleep, or nourishing meals? Maybe it’s meditation or time spent with loved ones. When I become busy, exercise and eating well go out the window first. Whatever it is that makes you thrive and stay on track, make it non-negotiable.

If outdoor time energizes you, take 10-minute walk outside before tackling your next task. Treat it as a critical appointment you wouldn’t cancel.

One technique I use is to meal prep on Sundays to ensure that healthy, energy-boosting options are available during the week when I am unlikely or too busy to cook. I stock my fridge with fruits, veggies, and proteins so that I avoid reaching for carbs or sugar.

When you prioritize self-care, you invest in your most valuable resource—yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so fill it regularly and intentionally.

Your Intentional Life

Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s the foundation of sustainable success. By setting boundaries, focusing on priorities, and nurturing your well-being, you can fully unplug when you leave the office behind for time off.

What step will you take today to honor yourself?

Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out for resources to support your journey!

This article is based on a talk I gave for clients of Elysia Skye‘s at the Brilliance Method and was also published on my LinkedIn page.

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