5 Tips to Balance Your Direct Sales Business During the Holidays
If the holidays turn you into Buddy the Elf (minus the maple syrup spaghetti), you are so not alone. This time of year makes us want to do all the things: bake cookies, watch Christmas movies, sip cocoa by the tree, build Pinterest-level gingerbread houses, and soak up every magical moment.
But… there’s still a business to run.
And if we’re not intentional, our to-do list can quietly steamroll the joy right out of December.
So let’s take a breath. You chose direct sales for the flexibility. Flexibility means your business fits your life — not the other way around.
This is your permission slip to give yourself grace: grace to plan, grace to set boundaries, and grace to actually enjoy the holidays without carrying around a backpack full of “shouldas.”
Let’s walk through how to make that happen.
1️⃣ Set a Realistic Goal for December
December isn’t the month to reinvent your business. It is the month to be clear on what matters most.
Ask yourself:
- What’s my top priority this month?
- What ONE thing would make my December feel like a success?
It might be:
- Booking for January so you don't have to stress in the New Year
- Hitting a specific sales goal to help with those holiday bills
- Reconnecting with customers to show gratitude
Write it down. Keep it simple. Stick to it.
When you focus on one clear goal, everything suddenly feels lighter.
2️⃣ Pick Your “Closed for the Holidays” Dates
Here’s the truth: You deserve time off.
But… you also can’t take the whole month off and expect to magically pick your business back up in January right where you left off.
Choose your days:
- Maybe you need a few days in early December to prep for events or volunteer.
- Maybe you’re taking the week off between Christmas and New Years.
- Maybe you want a long weekend sprinkled in.
Whatever it is — block it off.
Then pair those rest days with intentional work days focused on your December priority.
Work when you’re working and be present when you’re not.
3️⃣ Choose Your Reopening Date
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking…
“I’ll get back to work when the kids go to school… okay, maybe after I take the tree down… well now it’s mid-January so I’ll wait for February… or the new catalog!”
Yep. Been there.
The solution?
Pick your January reopen date NOW.
Then schedule something that forces you to show up:
- A hostess appreciation event
- A team training
- A VIP sale
- Your first party of the year
When other people are counting on you, accountability works wonders.
4️⃣ Extend Grace to Your Team
If you lead a team, remember: They’re in the holiday whirlwind too.
This isn’t the month for giant goals or “let’s run harder!” messages.
Instead, give them a short list of priority tasks:
- Earn their December paycheck
- Book their January parties
- Mail out their January hostess packets with a holiday card
Encourage them to schedule those tasks… and then release the rest.
People respect leaders who lead with grace.
5️⃣ Ditch the Regret
Holiday regret is real.
I’ve been there—carrying the weight of what I should be doing while missing out on the moments I’ll never get back.
If that’s been you too, let’s decide right now to let it go. This holiday season, work when you need to, rest when you can, and make memories that make you smile long after the ornaments are packed away.
Your December Challenge
Make your list. Check it twice. And then leave space for the things that matter most.
Because at the end of the season, you won’t remember the perfectly scheduled posts or emails.
You’ll remember the laughter, the moments, the magic, and the peace of being truly present.
Here’s to cookies, connections, and a holiday season filled with grace.
How to Put This Into Action
- Choose ONE December priority and write it where you'll see it daily
- Block your “closed for the holidays” dates
- Set your January reopen date and schedule an event now
- Help your team set their priority for the month
- Release the guilt — your business will still be there after Christmas
If you want next year to feel lighter and more manageable — with systems that support your life — join the waitlist for From Chaos to Clarity. It’s the roadmap to building repeatable systems and a business that works with your life, not against it.
👉 Join the Waitlist for From Chaos to Clarity
