312: The Entrepreneur’s Holiday Survival Guide

The Entrepreneur’s Holiday Survival Guide: How to Step Away Without Stress

The holiday season is here, and if you’re a business owner, you might be feeling torn between your passion for your work and your long-overdue need to recharge. In Episode 312 of the Her Empire Builder Show, Tina Tower delivers a timely guide to not only surviving the holidays as an entrepreneur but also thriving through them—without burning out or feeling guilty about taking a well-deserved break.

To Holiday or Not to Holiday?

For years, Tina Tower embraced working through the holidays, relishing that peaceful time between Christmas and New Year when business slowed and she could catch up on tasks, often in pajamas or a swimsuit. But, as she shared, eventually that changed. Over the past few years, Tina Tower has prioritized taking extended time off—starting with two weeks, then three, and now a full month from mid-December to mid-January. The result? More enjoyment, less exhaustion, and a better recharge for the year ahead.

Planning for a Stress-Free Break

The idea of stepping away can be daunting. Will the business fall apart? Will clients get frustrated? Tina Tower assures listeners: holidays don’t have to mean chaos. The key is planning ahead. Whether your break is a few days or several weeks, proactivity will prevent the dreaded last-minute panic.

Action Steps for Entrepreneurs:

• Start Now: December is the perfect time to prepare, map out your holiday dates, and put systems in place.

• Document Your Plan:

  Tina Tower

  offers a downloadable action plan at herempirebuilder.com/break.

Keeping Your Business Humming

Just because you’re unplugging doesn't mean your business has to stall. Tina Tower encourages entrepreneurs to:

• Automate Everything: Schedule email marketing, social media, and sales so your business keeps growing—even while you’re away.

• Set Up Autoresponders: Use cheeky, brand-aligned messages to let people know you’re offline but still present in spirit.

• Facebook Group Strategy: Decide if you’ll keep your community open with clear communication or temporarily disable it for peace of mind.

Preventing Financial Slowdowns

A break doesn’t have to mean a dip in revenue. Implement holiday promotions or flash sales before or during your absence. Tina Tower highlights her own “12 Days of Christmas” campaign as a way to boost sales and keep revenue flowing while celebrating with family.

• Review Your Budget: Check cash flow, plan for expenses, and ensure bills are covered while you’re offline.

• Prep for Taxes: Try to front-load admin so you aren’t stressed about deadlines on your return.

Boundaries: The Secret to Rejuvenation

One powerful takeaway from Tina Tower is the importance of setting clear boundaries—not just for your clients, but for yourself. Whether it’s putting an out-of-office message, restricting app access with tools like Opal, or even delegating to a trusted team member, these boundaries create space for true relaxation.

And remember: clear communication matters. Let clients know early—and often—when you’ll be unplugged, and outline how they can get support if needed.

Two To-Do Lists: Before Break & After Break

Don’t let the pre-holiday build-up overwhelm you. Tina Tower swears by making two lists: one for critical tasks before your break (“BB”) and one for anything that can wait until after (“AB”). This ensures you hit the essentials, but also gives you peace of mind to push less time-sensitive projects.

Creativity Flows When You Rest

Perhaps the biggest takeaway? When you allow yourself real downtime, your brain is free to spark creativity and innovation. Tina Tower recommends blocking off your first day back as a planning day to capture all those fresh ideas and organize before the business rush resumes.

In summary: with conscious planning, automation, clear boundaries, and honesty with yourself and your clients, you can enjoy the holidays guilt-free. The break is not just good for your wellbeing—it’s good for your business.