5 Things to Work On Your Business Over the Holidays
The end of the year always feels like a strange mix — a little bit chaotic, a little bit slower, and a whole lot of “I’ll deal with that in January.”
But the truth is, the holiday break is actually one of the best times to quietly work on your business instead of getting swallowed up working in it.
You don’t need a full-blown strategy day or a stack of spreadsheets. Just a few focused tasks that will set you up to start the new year feeling organised, confident, and in control.
Here are 5 simple, high-impact things you can work on over the holidays.
1. Give Your Systems a Quick Tune-Up
When you’re busy serving customers or on the tools, it’s hard to see the cracks in your processes.
The holidays offer a rare bit of breathing room to tidy things up.
A few areas to check:
Are your quotes and invoices being sent efficiently?
Do your reminders and follow-ups run automatically?
Is your filing system (yes, even the receipts stuffed in your glovebox) easy to use?
Do staff know the steps for day-to-day tasks?
Even small tweaks — like tightening up templates, cleaning up your inbox, or setting up a simple automation — can save hours each week once you’re back into the grind.
2. Review Your Numbers (the simple version!)
No jargon, no overwhelm — just clarity.
Use this time to review:
What came in
What went out
What’s outstanding
What your cash flow actually looks like heading into the new year
When you look at your numbers weekly, you make smarter decisions, avoid surprises, and stay in control of cash flow. This is the perfect moment to set up a simple money-tracking habit that future-you will love.
(If this bit makes your eyes glaze over, this is literally what I help with!)
3. Update All the “Set and Forget” Stuff
The things you only notice when they go wrong — or when a customer points them out.
Take 20 minutes to check:
Your website (are your services, hours, or prices out of date?)
Your socials (is your bio clear? is your contact info correct?)
Your Google Business listing (customers check this more than you think)
A quick refresh can make your business look polished, trustworthy, and ready for a strong start in January.
4. Clean Up Your Workspace
A tidy space = a clearer brain.
Whether you’re in a workshop, van, office, showroom, or spare-room desk:
Toss anything broken, outdated, or unnecessary
Create spots for the things you always lose
Clear your desktop (physical and digital!)
Do a 15-minute inbox clean-out (unsubscribe to some of those unread newsletters)
Organise stock or materials so January feels lighter
You’ll be amazed how different your workflow feels when your environment isn’t chaotic.
5. Set Your 2026 Goals — But Keep Them Simple
You don’t need a 50-page business plan.
Think about:
What worked well this year
What drained your time, money, or energy
What you want more of
What you want less of
Pick 3–5 priorities to focus on next year.
Then break them into tiny steps — the kind you can actually action, not the kind that sit on a list for months.
If you don’t know where to start, I can help you map it all out in an initial audit.
Ready to hit the ground running in January?
If you want a hand tidying up the backend of your business — systems, cash flow, processes, or compliance — I’d love to help.
👇 Download a checklist or book a quick chat
www.aarstrategies.com.au