The Year-End Rush: How Women Leaders Can Cope With Chaos and Stress at Work and Home

As we near the end of the year, the demands on women leaders multiply. Performance reviews, year-end reports, budgets, and planning for the upcoming year seem to stack up overnight. Add to that the holiday season—often one of the most joyful, yet chaotic times of the year, but also one of the most stressful. Many women carry the invisible load of managing holiday preparations, coordinating family gatherings, and ensuring everyone’s happiness, all while maintaining leadership responsibilities at work (Truth? I'm talking here about literally all of my clients...and myself, too.)

It’s a dual burden that leaves many of us feeling stretched way too thin. But here's the good news: It doesn’t have to be like this. You can approach the year-end chaos with greater ease—and it starts with recognizing the unique challenges you’re facing and then adopting strategies to take control of your time and energy.

The Real Cost of Emotional Labor

Emotional labor disproportionately falls on women, especially those in leadership. Studies from the Pew Research Center show that women, even when working full-time in high-pressure jobs, remain responsible for the majority of household tasks and caregiving responsibilities. This "second shift" becomes even more pronounced during the holidays, when family expectations, gift-giving, and organizing festive gatherings add to the already heavy burden we carry. It's exhausting, just thinking about it!

And don't get me started on perfectionism. You’ve probably felt it—the pressure to be the leader at work and the perfect host or family organizer at home, right? And all of this takes a huge toll. Research from Harvard Business Review found that 40% of women in executive positions report feeling overwhelmed during the holiday season. It's a lot to juggle, and the effects of this constant multitasking can quickly spiral into exhaustion and burnout.

Boundaries Matter More Than Ever

While the responsibilities of work and home might feel non-negotiable, setting boundaries is essential to protecting your well-being. Women often find it challenging to say “no”—to a last-minute work request or one more holiday obligation—but doing so is absolutely necessary for your mental health and your leadership effectiveness.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), setting clear boundaries can reduce work-related stress by 25%. This means learning to prioritize tasks at work and delegating whenever possible. It might also mean letting go of some holiday expectations. Can you simplify this year’s celebrations, or share some of the responsibility with others?

Easier said than done, right? In my upcoming live webinar , I’ll show you how to set these boundaries in a way that actually works—not just for your leadership role, but for your personal life as well. The holidays don’t have to be synonymous with burnout.

The Myth of the “Perfect Leader”

Speaking of perfectionism...There’s a far too persistent myth that women leaders are expected to handle everything seamlessly—to be the star performer at work and the ultimate problem-solver at home. We praise these women who seem to be able to "do it all." But here’s the truth: nobody can do it all. And more importantly, nobody should have to. Plus...what are we actually doing here, and at what cost?

Self-care is often framed as a luxury, something we can squeeze in after everybody else’s needs are met. But research from Stanford University paints a very different picture. The study found that leaders who make emotional intelligence and self-care a priority see 50% higher employee engagement. What does this mean? It means that when you take care of yourself, you not only avoid burnout, but you also lead your team more effectively. (I know! It's awesome, right?!)

This doesn’t mean booking a vacation or spa day (although, hey, I never discourage vacations or spa days!) Here's the thing: studies show that the effects of vacations, while beneficial, tend to fade within days of returning to work if you're constantly under pressure (Journal of Occupational Health). The same goes for any one-off self-care practices. Instead, consistent, small actions—like taking regular breaks, setting aside personal time, and unplugging from work—can make a lasting impact. True self-care comes from integrating self-care practices into your daily routine, especially during stressful periods. And it is essential.

Time Management Can Be A Game-Changer

Feeling like there’s not enough time in the day to juggle all your responsibilities? You’re not alone. Most of us feel that way. One of the biggest obstacles for women leaders during this time of year is feeling like there’s never enough time. Between year-end reports, holiday preparations, and the emotional labor of ensuring everyone’s happiness, it’s no wonder the days feel short (well, and technically, they are actually shorter). But here's the thing: managing your time more effectively is possible, and the rewards are huge.

Research from the University of California, Irvine, shows that leaders who master time management can gain up to 10 extra hours per week. That’s not a small adjustment—it’s massive. Imagine what you could do with those hours: spend more time on strategic planning for your team or actually relax and enjoy the holidays with your family. Who wouldn't want that?

Let’s take a moment to think about how these strategies—setting boundaries, managing your time, and prioritizing self-care—work together. They’re not stand-alone concepts; they form the foundation of effective leadership during high-pressure periods like the year-end rush.

I'm Making A Case for Boundaries, Time Management, and Self-Care

Let’s take a minute to think about how these strategies—setting boundaries, managing your time, and prioritizing self-care—work together. Boundaries, time management, and self-care are usually talked about separately, but the reality is that they're not stand-alone concepts; they form the bedrock of effective leadership, especially, particularly, essentially during high-pressure periods like the year-end rush we're heading into.

You can set boundaries, but without time management skills, boundaries are likely to crumble under the weight of unrealistic demands. You can manage your time, but without self-care, you’ll burn out faster than you can replenish your energy (this one is huge). And self-care without boundaries and time management? Well, that’s an evening that’s peppered with work emails every five minutes. These strategies are interconnected, and when used together, they give you the tools you need to lead with strength and resilience.

You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the mounting pressures of the year-end and the holidays, if you're anticipating the end of this year with dread, then please know this: you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure this out by yourself. In my upcoming free live webinar , we’ll be looking at each of these strategies and talking about how to implement them. You’ll walk away with a clear plan to reclaim your time, protect your energy, and set yourself up for success—not just for the rest of 2024, but well into 2025.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Time management techniques that will help you free up hours each week
• Practical boundary-setting strategies that actually work (yes, even during the holidays!)
• Self-care tips that go beyond vacations and spa days—designed to support your leadership and personal well-being

In no way should you be trying to do more. Instead, you should be thinking about what matters most. Join me, and let’s tackle this year-end chaos together, one strategy at a time!