Hey you - I see you.

Exhausted. Overworked. Overwhelmed.
Still battling on.
In the home stretch before collapsing over the holiday finish line.

You’ve been carrying so much, for so long, that motivation is patchy, at best.

That doesn’t mean you don’t care.
It doesn’t mean you’re not resilient.
It means you’re human – and your brain and body were never designed for nonstop disruption.

Your nervous system isn’t a machine that can be rebooted on command; it needs cycles of stress and recovery.

So take a moment – this moment – to offer yourself a little kindness please.
A little recognition.
An acknowledgement of how you’ve kept showing up.

For yourself. For your team. For your family. 👏

And as you prepare for the holidays - here's 4 simple ways to help you rest, reset and be the leader you need to be when January comes.

1) Stop Letting Fear Set Your Availability

Many leaders I work with struggle to switch off during their down-time because of thoughts like:

• “It’s easier to stay on top of things now than to be snowed under later.”
• “If I don’t answer messages straight away, I’ll look bad or less committed.”
• “Clients need this ASAP – I have to be available.”

All of these come from a place of care and responsibility.
But there’s a cost: when you never fully unhook, you slowly lose the very things that make you effective – perspective, patience, creativity, self-regulation.

So instead - question these fear-based thoughts as they arise. Are they actually all true? How do you know?

Separate these notions into the 80:20 bucket.

20% (or less) may be valid in which case there’s an underlying need that needs to be addressed.

The rest - let go of. While giving yourself a big pat on the back.

Because let’s be real - you’re no good to anyone if you’re constantly running on adrenaline and autopilot.

2) Create An Out-Of-Office You Actually Mean

People say they like my out-of-office messages because they’re a cheeky nudge to go have fun and also a clear “do not disturb” sign hung on my inbox.

So use this holiday to write one that does the same for you.

Get creative. Get honest. Get out of the office ...

Wouldn't it be great to get something like this! Literally a new definition of a bounce-back...

3) Lead by Example

We quietly keep the “always on” culture alive. Then complain about it.

But every late-night “just checking in” email, every unnecessary cc, every reply-all adds more noise and more fire-fighting.

As a leader, you can model something different. Something healthier:

Send fewer, clearer messages, and skip non-essential emails over the break.

The fewer fires you light and fan - the fewer you all have to fight.

4) Decide Your Boundaries - Then Communicate Them

If you’re heading into the holidays already tired, it's extra important to set healthy boundaries around your downtime. This exercise takes two minutes and works best if you write it down:

1. What will I protect?
   ​ Sleep, time with family, walks, time with no plans…
   What is non-negotiable for me over the holidays?
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2. What will I pause?
   ​ Out-of-hours emails, “just one more thing” tasks, always saying yes, doom-scrolling before bed.
   ​
3. Who needs to know?
   ​ Boss, team, clients, family – who do I need to set expectations with so I can properly switch off?

That list is your permission slip. Treat it like any important plan or meeting.

Do it today - you'll save yourself more time and sanity in the long-run.

If this resonates, come and practice with me.

Stress and pressure won’t magically disappear next year – but how you meet them can change.

Hit reply if you need some support (I do check all my e-mails).

Or come along to my free online workshop “Access Calm On Demand”, where I’ll share simple tools to notice when you’re tipping into overwhelm and shift into calm, clear focus in the moment.

If your inner voice is saying, “I can’t keep doing it like this,” then chances are - you're probably right!

Something has to give - please don't let it be your health.

SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE

With love and appreciation,

Georgina (aka Anita Break)

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