26: Circle Back
Circling back slowly is still circling back.
It’s that time of year, not Christmas, that’s over, the time when everything you said you would “circle back” to is finally catching up with you.
Any of these sound familiar?:
Oh, let’s circle back on that subject after the holidays.
I’m gonna circle back on that email after the new year.
Maybe I can circle back on decluttering once we know everything the kids are getting for Christmas.
We all know it. We all do it, in some way. So today’s episode is about that — the chaos that creeps in after “vacation mode”: the scramble to catch up, rebuild momentum, and — maybe most importantly — give ourselves grace as we do it. “You handled the holidays perfectly… even if they felt messy.”
You’re not alone. Here’s a stat that hits especially for moms and parents: In one survey, more than half of all adults say it takes weeks to feel less stressed after the holidays — and for many moms, it takes a month or more to recover. (American Heart Association).
Even after the holidays are over, 57% struggle to re-engage with work, and 40% say they’ve considered quitting their job because of seasonal burnout or dread about returning.
Here’s the truth: Holidays aren’t “time off” for moms — they’re unpaid event coordinators, chefs, cleaners, gift-managers, travel managers, emotional support blankets, and memory-makers.
And if you’re an entrepreneur, you are also dealing with Q4 deadlines, planning for Q1, year-end financial tasks, and trying to “rest” while a business is still running in the background.
This is why January feels like hitting the ground running… except the ground is still moving.
How to Circle Back — Without Burning Out
Here are some things that have helped us (or that we wish we’d done).
Prioritize slowly. Instead of opening 100 tabs and starting 10 projects at once — pick the top 2 or 3 tasks that truly need your attention this week. Let the rest wait, or schedule them.
Block “soft reentry” time. Maybe that means working 2–3 shorter sessions instead of full-on, or holding off on big decisions until your brain feels more settled.
Be realistic with expectations. Remind yourself: “If I can just get through this week, everything will be fine.” It’s okay to ease in — you don’t need to slingshot into the rest of the year.
Protect self-care like you protect business tasks. Research shows many people overlook their own health during the holidays — poor sleep, skipped workouts, bad eating habits. American Heart Association+2American Heart Association+2 Use the first weeks of the new year to gently rebuild good habits.
Ask for support or delegate. Whether that’s with childcare, household tasks, or parts of your business. If you’re stretched thin, it’s okay to let go of absolute control for a while.
If you’re circling back after the holidays and things feel like a mess… remember: you handled all of December’s chaos already. And you’ve got what it takes to ease back in.
Many moms tell themselves:
“Once the holidays are over, I’ll get back on track.”
“Once the kids go back to school…”
“Once I finish this one week of catch-up…”
“If I can just get through this week… famous last words.”
“Once I reorganize everything…”
But these “reset fantasies” don’t account for:
Life continuing
New tasks arriving
Kids getting sick
Client emergencies
Your energy is not magically replenished on January 1st
Instead of “let me get everything done,” shift to “What needs my attention the most today?”
Practical Ways to Ease Back Into Life
1. The 3-Task Rule
Pick:
1 home task
1 kid/family task
1 business task
Everything else is optional.
2. The 20-Minute “Momentum Builder”
Set a timer and do anything for 20 minutes:
inbox sorting
laundry
meal planning
writing content
This gently reactivates your brain without pressure.
3. The “Soft Start” Week
Half days if possible
Pushing big decisions to week 2 or 3
Low-stakes tasks first
4. Lower the bar intentionally
Instead of:
Perfect meals → “semi-edible and nobody’s crying.”
Full clean house → “one room feels peaceful.”
Amazing business plan → “bullet points exist”
For the Entrepreneurs Listening
How to re-engage your business without overwhelm:
Start with revenue-impact tasks: follow-ups, clients, and payments.
Then visibility tasks: content, email, socials.
Then the administrative tasks.
Easy wins for week 1:
Auto-reply with your January boundaries
“Circling back after the holidays!” check-ins
One batch-recorded content day
Update brand materials or systems slowly
You built something amazing last year. You don’t have to rebuild it or start from scratch in week one of January.
You got this. And you really did handle that perfectly.
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