Stay Organised and Stress-Free: How You Can Get Things Done This Festive Season

As a micro or small business startup entrepreneur, the festive season often presents a unique challenge. On one hand, it’s a time to recharge and enjoy some much-needed rest with family and friends. On the other, it can feel like a missed opportunity to catch up on tasks that get sidelined during busier periods. According to a Gallup survey, 74% of employees report feeling overwhelmed by work during the holidays. And realistically, if you’re a micro or small business owner, that percentage is probably more like 99%! There’s a good chance you wish you had more time to wrap things up before the year’s end.

But what if this festive season could be different? Rather than scrambling to finish things or letting tasks pile up, you can use this period to organise, streamline, and prepare for a productive 2025. Whether you complete these tasks yourself or use the time to explore hiring a virtual assistant (VA), this could be the perfect moment to set your business up for future success. Here’s how to make the most of this traditionally slower time.

Turning "Down Time" Into Productive Time

The festive season doesn’t have to be a dead zone for your business. While many others are winding down, you can take advantage of the quieter period to finish things you usually don’t have time for. Maybe it’s finally clearing that backlog of emails, reorganising your customer data, or reviewing your business strategy for the upcoming year. This slower pace can be a golden opportunity to tie up loose ends and get a head start on 2025.

Many micro and small business owners fall into the trap of thinking they must constantly be in "go" mode. But using this downtime wisely—either by handling tasks yourself or bringing in help—can give you a sense of accomplishment and control. By dedicating time to admin tasks or strategic planning, you’ll enter the new year feeling organised and ready for growth.

What You Can Accomplish During the Festive Season

You might wonder what tasks are worth focusing on during this quieter time. Here are a few key areas you can tackle—either on your own or with the help of a VA if you decide to invest in extra support:

• Inbox Management: If your inbox has become unmanageable, now is the time to clean it up. Sort through old emails, create folders, and clear out unnecessary clutter. This will set you up for a fresh start in 2025.
• Scheduling and Calendar Organisation: Review your upcoming appointments and meetings. Use this time to block out strategic planning sessions for the new year and ensure your calendar is streamlined for productivity.
• Customer Data Cleanup: If your customer data is spread across different platforms or has outdated information, take the time to consolidate and update it. Clean, organised data can improve customer outreach and marketing efforts in the new year.
• Financial Review and Planning: The end of the year is an ideal time to review your financials. Reconcile accounts, check for outstanding invoices, and prepare for tax season (it’s NEVER too early!).
• Content and Marketing Preparation: Whether setting up social media posts or drafting an email marketing campaign for the new year, the festive season offers time to get ahead on content creation. You can batch-create blog posts, social media graphics, or newsletters now, so you don’t have to scramble later.
• Strategic Planning for 2025: Use the quieter period to reflect on your business’s direction. What worked in 2024, and what didn’t? Set new goals and start planning how to achieve them. With fewer distractions, now is the time to focus on big-picture thinking.

By focusing on these tasks, you’ll enter 2025 more organised, less stressed, and with a clear roadmap for the future.

Do It Yourself, or Bring in a VA?

The beauty of the festive season is that you have options. You can take the time to work through these tasks yourself, enjoying the satisfaction of getting your business in order. Many entrepreneurs enjoy rolling up their sleeves and tackling admin work when not pulled in many directions.

However, if you find the idea of doing it all overwhelming—or simply want to focus on more strategic tasks like growing your business—you can consider bringing in extra help. Hiring a VA for short-term projects or ongoing support can be a smart investment, especially if you’d prefer to focus on customer acquisition, product development, or other growth areas.

Here’s a comparison to help you decide whether to do it yourself or delegate:

• Doing it Yourself:
• Hiring a VA:

Whether you go the DIY route or bring in help, the important thing is to use the holiday season wisely to set yourself up for a strong start in the new year.

Keep Momentum Through the Festive Slump

Many small businesses experience a holiday slump where things slow down. While this may be frustrating, it’s also a valuable opportunity. Rather than getting caught in the seasonal slowdown, use this time to build momentum for 2025.

If your schedule allows, dedicate part of your holiday time to organising your business. You could tackle those projects sitting on the back burner or clean up your processes so you can enter the new year running at full speed.

Or consider this an opportunity to outsource some of those tasks. Bringing in experts who can help grow and scale your business beyond what you can do yourself is a fantastic investment.?

The Choice Is Yours: Set Yourself Up for Success in 2025

The festive season doesn’t have to be stressful or stagnant. Whether you use this time to work through tasks or bring in outsourced support, you can make the most of the quieter holiday period to set yourself up for success in the new year.

Either way, taking proactive steps will pay off when business starts in January.

Need a hand with your micro startup? Join Go Solo Startups today so you can enjoy a significant and sustainable competitive advantage as a startup founder or entrepreneur!