December arrives with that strange mix of relief, exhaustion and the quiet whisper that you should squeeze in just one more thing before the year ends.
It is the time of year when many women in business look around and wonder how everyone else seems to be sprinting to the finish line while they are holding themselves together with equal parts determination and caffeine.
Not everyone can slow down in December
And for some women, slowing down at this time of year simply is not possible.
Retailers, hospitality owners, tourism operators and anyone with a seasonal business are in their busiest weeks. While others are winding down, they are managing customer demands, long hours, staff rosters and holiday expectations.
So when I talk about slowing down without falling behind, I am not suggesting that you can pause the world in December. I am talking about something broader. I am talking about redefining what slowing down looks like, depending on the rhythm of your business and the reality of your life.
Many of us grew up with the idea that slowing down is dangerous. That if we pause, someone will overtake us. That productivity looks like motion at all times. And that rest is something you earn rather than something that is essential.
What slowing down really means for women in business
But for women in business who carry the emotional load of leadership, visibility, family and community, this mindset is not sustainable. It is also not true.
Success for many of us has very little to do with being busy. It sits in clarity, boundaries, flexibility, time with family, emotional space and the confidence to choose what matters most.
When you shape success around these elements, slowing down becomes more than a holiday question. It becomes a practice in self-leadership.
Whether you are deep in the December rush, enjoying a quieter period or somewhere in between, slowing down is about honouring the season you are in, not the season others are in.
My story of learning to pause
In the first couple of years of Starfish Marketing, I worked straight through the festive season. Every year. When everyone else stopped, I kept going. I convinced myself that a real business owner stayed switched on. I worried that pausing would signal weakness or lack of ambition. I assumed my clients needed me available in case something urgent cropped up.
What actually happened was simple. I burnt out.
I sat at my desk across late Decembers feeling flat, drained, and wondering why running a business I loved suddenly felt heavy. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to notice that most of my clients shut down for two weeks at the end of each year. They were not expecting or needing me to work. I had placed that pressure on myself.
So I experimented. I took one week off. It felt uncomfortable at first. It also felt good. The next year I increased the break to two weeks. That decision changed everything. I came back into January clear headed and energised in a way I had not felt since the early days of launching my business.
This year I am taking three weeks. Not because things are quiet, but because things matter. Because stepping back gives me the space to connect with my purpose, reflect on what I want Starfish to achieve, and return ready to deliver the best outcomes for clients.
Slowing down did not cause me to fall behind. It helped me move forward.
When slowing down is not possible right now
But again, this is my rhythm. Not everyone’s. If you work in a business that peaks at year end, your slowing down might happen in January. Or February. Or in pockets rather than whole weeks.
Sometimes slowing down is not a holiday. It is five quiet minutes before opening the doors. It is letting one task wait until tomorrow.
It is remembering that your worth is not measured by a single month of revenue. It is acknowledging that you will rest when the season allows you to, not when the calendar says you should.
Slowing down is not a date. It is a decision.
Why redefining success matters here
This brings us back to the heart of redefining success.
The traditional definition of success equates constant activity with progress and a focus on growth. But success for many women in business has nothing to do with this. It sits in clarity, boundaries, emotional space, and the confidence to choose what matters most.
When we slow down, we create room to reconnect with why we started our business.
Purpose becomes easier to hear when the noise stops. Our ideas make more sense when our minds are rested. Decisions become clearer. And we step forward, not scrambling to catch up, but already aligned.
This gentle pause also strengthens something else I care deeply about.
Community.
When women step back without guilt, something shifts. We give one another permission to do the same. We show that rest is not a weakness. It is a leadership skill. It is a statement that our wellbeing matters, and that a strong community of women in business lifts each other by modelling healthier norms.
Productivity looks different when it emerges from a collective that values care as much as ambition. That is where the magic sits.
If you are used to being the person who pushes through, slowing down can feel strange. It may even feel risky. But ask yourself this. When you look back, were the best decisions you made the ones created in exhaustion or the ones created in clarity. Which version of you do your clients benefit from? Which version of you do you want to lead your next year?
Slowing down is not falling behind.
It is choosing a pace that aligns with your version of success. It is giving your future self the energy, creativity and stability she needs. And it is showing other women that they do not have to run themselves into the ground to be taken seriously.
Your business will still be there. Your purpose will still be guiding you. Your clients will still value you. And you will return after your chosen pause with more capacity, more focus, and more confidence in the path ahead.
This year, give yourself the space to breathe. Give yourself permission to stop. Success will not slip away if you do. In fact, it may find its way back to you far more easily when you are rested and ready to see it.
Because when women honour what they need, lift one another, and make decisions from a place of purpose rather than pressure, remarkable things happen. Not because we are doing more, but because we are finally doing what matters.
How can I slow down if my business is busiest in December
You can slow down through pacing rather than pausing. Micro-rest, boundaries and planned recovery time after the peak period help protect your energy.
Does slowing down mean my business will fall behind
No. Rest supports clarity, better decision making and stronger long-term performance. It positions you to start the new year focused rather than depleted.
What does slowing down look like for different types of businesses
Seasonal businesses pace themselves through peak periods. Professional services often take full breaks. Others slow down whenever their natural lull emerges.
If you are noticing a shift in what matters to you and want practical support to design a version of success that fits your life, let’s talk about holding a Redefining Success workshop. They are designed for that purpose. They offer guidance, structure and a community of women who understand the pressure of trying to be everything at once.
