Let's be honest: small business owners don't really "shut down" for the holidays. They just shift into a lower gear while secretly checking their phones under the dinner table. But this year, let's aim for something radical—enjoy the holidays without spiraling into a panic about what's happening at the office.

The "out of office" message that actually works

Forget the boring "I'm away" auto-reply. Try something like: "I'm celebrating the holidays with family and checking email once daily at 9 a.m. For urgent matters, contact [trusted team member] at [email]. For everything else, I'll respond when I return on January 6th." Clear boundaries + backup plan = appreciative clients.

Delegation for control freaks

Yes, you could send 47 panicked texts to your team. Or you could create a simple "If This, Then That" guide before you leave: 

• Client asking for a refund? Here's the policy.

• Website down? Call this number.

• Someone wants to order 500 units? Take the order, I'll love you forever.

Trust your team with decisions, or spend Christmas Eve troubleshooting from your phone. Your choice.

The guilt-free shutdown checklist

Your anxiety says you need to reorganize the entire filing system and prepare for every possible apocalypse scenario. Reality check: You need to 1) Set that out-of-office message, 2) Brief your team, 3) Pay any critical invoices, and 4) Maybe tidy your desk so January-you doesn't immediately regret everything. That's it. The rest is just procrastination wearing a productivity costume.

The "I'm off but not really" compromise

If going completely dark gives you hives, try the 15-minute morning check-in. Make coffee, scan emails for genuine emergencies, handle anything critical, then close the laptop. You've checked in, the business is fine, now go enjoy that pie.

January re-entry: Don't be a hero

Do NOT check email on January 1. You're setting a terrible precedent for yourself. Instead, schedule buffer time on your first day back—no client meetings, just catching up and easing in. You’ll thank yourself later.

Now go forth and enjoy the holidays. Your business will survive, and you might actually remember what relaxation feels like.