Holiday Week Strategy: What to Actually Do December 23-31

Holiday week is coming.

Plan for minimal productivity.

The Reality Check

December 23-31 expectations:

Most offices closed or limited hours Clients traveling Vendors unavailable Deal flow stops

Accept this reality.

The Productive Days

Potentially productive:

December 23: Half day possible December 24: Offices closing early December 25: Everything closed December 26: Some offices open December 27: Limited activity December 30-31: Skeleton staff

Plan for 2-3 working days maximum.

The Transaction Focus

Active deals only:

Emergency issues Critical deadlines Closing scheduled this week (rare)

Only essential work.

The Email Management

Set out-of-office:

"Out of office December 24-January 1. Returning January 2. For urgent matters, text [number]."

Manage expectations.

The Phone Strategy

Limited availability:

Check messages once daily Return urgent calls only Defer non-urgent to January 2 Maintain emergency availability for closings

Boundaries matter.

The Relationship Building

Use downtime for:

Thank you texts to clients Holiday greeting calls Personal connection messages Gratitude outreach

Low-pressure touches.

The Planning Time

Holiday week planning:

2026 goal review January week 1 planning Marketing material updates CRM cleanup

Use quiet time productively.

The Content Scheduling

Schedule New Year content:

New Year greeting post (Dec 31) 2026 announcement (Jan 1) January availability post (Jan 2)

Automated posting.

The Database Maintenance

Year-end database work:

Final contact updates Tag cleanup Remove dead contacts Segment for January campaigns

Start year clean.

The Personal Time

Actually take time off:

December 25: Completely off December 31-January 1: Off Recharge for January

Rest is productive.

The Family Priority

Holiday commitments:

Family gatherings Personal celebrations Travel if planned Actual vacation

Business can wait.

The Emergency Protocol

For active transactions:

Clients have your cell Critical vendor contacts saved Know who to call for emergencies Be available if truly needed

But true emergencies are rare.

The Showing Requests

If showings requested:

Evaluate seriousness Accommodate truly motivated buyers Decline tire kickers Protect your time

Not every request deserves response.

The January Preparation

December 27-30 work:

Review January appointments Prepare buyer packets Update listing presentations Confirm January 2 schedule

Light preparation work.

The Technology Check

System verification:

Website working CRM accessible Email functioning Scheduling tools active

Fix issues before January 2.

The Vendor Communication

Connect with key vendors:

Thank them for 2025 Confirm January availability Discuss 2026 partnership Show appreciation

Relationship maintenance.

The Social Media

Minimal posting:

Holiday greeting New Year message No sales content Personal touch okay

Low-key presence.

The No-Guilt Rest

You need this break:

Batteries recharge Perspective returns Energy rebuilds 2026 readiness

Rest without guilt.

The January 2 Plan

First day back:

8am: Start prospecting Already booked appointments Clear daily plan Full energy

Hit ground running.

Your Holiday Week Schedule

December 23: Half day, urgent items only December 24-26: Off (emergency availability only) December 27-30: Light planning and prep (2-3 hours per day) December 31-January 1: Completely off

Realistic expectations.

Your Next Action

Set your out-of-office now.

Complete urgent items by December 22.

Schedule January 2 start time.

Give yourself permission to rest.

Holiday week is for recharging, not selling.

Tiffany Hampton is a seasoned real estate leader and MAPS Coach with over two decades of experience helping agents succeed 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.