"All I Want for Christmas is... A Stronger Immune System": What Founders Really Need This Season
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“All I want for Christmas is…”
A few more hours in each day
To see my kids in daylight hours
A clone of myself
Some uninterrupted sleep
A stronger immune system
The ability to be in two places at once
Just one day without firefighting
Sound familiar? These aren't the festive wishes of business owners looking for luxury. They're the desperate desires of purpose-driven founders trying to sprint through December without burning out completely.
"I just need to push through until Christmas..."
I'm hearing this from so many socially responsible entrepreneurs right now. This idea that if we can just sprint a little harder, work a little longer, somehow squeeze more hours out of already packed days – we'll make it to that finish line of December 25th.
But here's what I'm also hearing:
A founder who can't shake their third cold of the season
A business owner struggling with brain fog during their busiest sales period
An entrepreneur who missed their child's Christmas performance because they were putting out fires at work
A founder cancelling their gym membership because they 'never use it anyway'
A business owner surviving on coffee and Christmas chocolates for breakfast
The December reality for most business owners, particularly those in product-based businesses, is intense. You're managing:
Year-end targets and goals
Holiday season sales peaks
Team members taking leave (planned and unplanned!)
Supply chain pressures
Your own family's festive expectations
An increased social calendar
Winter wellness challenges
And you're trying to do it all while running on empty.
...sprints – they're meant to be short, intense bursts followed by rest and recovery
Here's the thing about sprints – they're meant to be short, intense bursts followed by rest and recovery. But for many founders, especially those driven by a mission to create positive change, this "sprint" has been going on for an awfully long time.
You keep telling yourself it's temporary. That after this rush, after this target, after this season, you'll slow down. You'll rest. You'll find that elusive balance.
But when you look back, this "temporary sprint" has become your constant pace.
The Cost of Continuous Sprinting:
Weakened immune system
Decreased decision-making ability
Reduced creativity and innovation
Strained relationships
Lost joy in the work you once loved
Dimming of that spark that got you started
As one client recently told me, "All I want for Christmas is a stronger immune system." This wasn't said just in jest – it came from a place of genuine exhaustion and frustration.
So what's the alternative?
Acknowledge the Sprint First, recognise that what you're doing isn't sustainable. This isn't about weakness – it's about being human. Even the most passionate, purpose-driven entrepreneurs need rest and renewal.
Audit Your "Must-Dos" Challenge your assumptions about what absolutely has to happen before Christmas. Often, our urgency is self-imposed. What could wait until January? What could be delegated? What could be simplified?
Create Micro-Recovery Moments If you can't take extended breaks right now, build in small recovery periods. Five minutes of deep breathing between meetings. A proper lunch break. A quick walk outside. These aren't indulgences – they are essential maintenance for your most important business asset: you.
Plan January Recovery Don't wait until you're running on fumes to plan rest. Schedule proper recovery time in January now. Block it out in your calendar and treat it as non-negotiable as your most important client meeting.
Set Boundaries December's social demands can be overwhelming. Trust the messages your body might be trying to give you.
I'm not claiming any of this is easy. You are not alone in struggling with things like setting boundaries and feeling torn between things that are important to you.
One of my clients, a socially conscious tech founder, recently wrestled with the challenge of setting boundaries. He was invited to a family Christmas gathering – people he genuinely enjoys spending time with. On paper, it should have been an easy "yes." But his mind, heart, and body were telling him something different – that if he took a precious day off work this week, what he really needed was a day alone to recharge, exercise, and reset.
The fact that my tech-founder client felt torn between self-care and family obligations shows how overwhelm can turn even enjoyable choices into stressful either/or situations. In the end, he chose to prioritise his need for recovery, knowing he'd be spending quality time with family next week and that they'd support his decision. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right one for his wellbeing – and ultimately, for his business too.
Remember: Your business needs you well. Your team needs you well. Your family needs you well. And most importantly, you deserve to be well.
The mission you're working towards – whether it's social impact, environmental change, or ethical innovation – needs you to be sustainable in your approach. Burnout isn't a badge of honour; it's a warning sign that something needs to change.
As we head into the final stretch of December, I invite you to question the sprint mentality. Could there be another way? Could you achieve your goals without sacrificing your wellbeing? Perhaps the best gift you can give yourself, your business, and your loved ones this Christmas is permission to stop sprinting.
Want to explore how to make this shift? Let's talk about creating sustainable success that doesn't cost you your health, relationships, or joy.