Holiday Break Guidelines: When to Work, When to Rest

Holiday week starts today.

Know when to work, when to rest.

The Work Days

Minimal work acceptable:

• December 23: Emergency calls only
• December 24: Completely off
• December 25: Completely off
• December 26: Light email check
• December 27-29: Optional planning time (2-3 hours daily)
• December 30-31: Mostly off

Realistic expectations.

The Rest Priority

You need actual rest:

• Family time
• Personal recharge
• Mental break
• Physical recovery

Burnout prevents January success.

The Emergency Protocol

Available for true emergencies:

• Closing scheduled this week (rare)
• Contract deadline that can't move
• Client crisis requiring attention

But verify it's actually urgent.

The Email Management

Out-of-office active:

"Out of office December 23-January 1. Back January 2. For urgent matters, text [number]. Happy holidays."

Set boundaries clearly.

The Phone Strategy

Limited availability:

• Check messages once daily (morning)
• Return only urgent calls
• Defer non-urgent to January 2
• Maintain emergency access for active clients

Protect your time.

The Social Media

Minimal presence:

• Pre-scheduled holiday greeting (Dec 24)
• Personal New Year post (Dec 31)
• No business content
• No prospecting

Holiday week isn't selling time.

The Transaction Work

Active deals only:

• Check on closings scheduled
• Respond to lender emergencies
• Handle title issues
• Coordinate if absolutely necessary

Only essential work.

The Database Touch

Light relationship building:

• Holiday text to key clients
• Thank you messages
• Personal greetings
• No sales messages

Relationship over revenue.

The Planning Time

If you want to work:

• December 27-29: 2-3 hours daily
• Review 2025 results
• Refine 2026 plans
• Organize materials
• Prepare for January 2

Light preparation work.

The Guilt-Free Rest

You earned this break:

• You worked hard all year
• January requires energy
• Rest improves performance
• Family deserves your presence

No guilt for resting.

The Boundary Communication

Tell clients and team:

"I'm off December 23-January 1 for family time. Emergency contact: [number]. Otherwise, I'll respond January 2."

Clear expectations prevent issues.

The January 2 Preparation

Use December 30-31 for:

• Review January week 1 calendar
• Confirm January 2 appointments
• Prepare first day materials
• Set alarm for January 2

Light preparation, not work.

The Showing Requests

Holiday week showings:

• Evaluate buyer seriousness
• Most are tire kickers
• Accommodate true emergencies only
• Defer most to January 6-7

Protect your holiday.

The New Inquiry Response

Holiday week leads:

Auto-response: "Received your inquiry. I'm with family through January 1. I'll contact you January 2." Add to follow-up list Don't engage during holiday They'll wait

Response time relaxes this week.

The Lender Coordination

Lenders are off too:

• Most offices closed December 24-26
• Limited staff December 27-30
• Nothing processes December 31-January 1

Don't expect lender response.

The Vendor Availability

Vendors are unavailable:

• Inspectors with family
• Contractors off
• Title companies closed
• Appraisers unavailable

Accept limited services.

The Family Priority

Focus on family:

• Be present
• Enjoy celebrations
• Create memories
• Disconnect from work

This time matters.

The Recharge Activities

Actually rest:

• Sleep adequate hours
• Exercise Read for pleasure
• Spend time with loved ones

Rest is productive.

The No-Work Days

Completely off:

• December 24: With family
• December 25: With family
• January 1: With family

No exceptions for non-emergencies.

The Perspective Gain

Use break to:

• Reflect on 2025
• Envision 2026
• Appreciate what you have
• Reset mentally

Perspective creates clarity.

Your Holiday Week

• December 23: Final work day, set boundaries
• December 24-26:
• Completely off December 27-29:
• Optional light planning (if you want)
• December 30-January 1: Mostly off, light
• January 2 prep

Enjoy your holiday.

Rest well now. Work hard January 2.

Tiffany Hampton is a seasoned real estate leader and MAPS Coach with over two decades of experience helping agents succeeded through leadership, coaching, and innovative strategy. As the founder of AgentGrowth365.com, Tiffany delivers proven systems, tools, and training that empower agents and market center leaders to grow with clarity and purpose. Whether you're looking to hit 24 transactions, streamline your coaching systems, or lead your business with impact, AgentGrowth365 offers a full suite of solutions designed to meet today's challenges and scale tomorrow's success.