Running a Business as a Mum at Christmas

The early years of my business…

That tiny desk in the corner?

That was all I had.

Our Christmas tree was small.

My business was small.

Life felt heavy, uncertain, and stretched thin.

I was a mum trying to build something meaningful while juggling Christmas, childcare, money worries, and the constant mental load that comes with it all.

And here’s what those years taught me about running a business as a mum at Christmas

🎄 Christmas is a season not a failure

If December feels harder than you expect, you’re not failing. You are responding to extra pressure, invisible labour, and competing priorities.

Here are some common challenges and gentler ways to handle them:

1️⃣ Feeling pulled in every direction

Business needs you. Family needs you. Everyone needs you.

✔ Choose intentionally where your energy goes each week

✔ Be fully present where you are instead of mentally everywhere

✔ Remember: clarity reduces guilt indecision increases it

2️⃣ The pressure to slow down when you can’t

✔ Slowing down can mean working differently, not stopping

✔ Focus on maintenance, not growth

✔ Choose one or two priorities only

✔ Sustainability matters more than perfection

3️⃣ The mental load feels heavier than ever

✔ Write everything down, don’t carry it all in your head

✔ Separate business tasks from festive tasks

✔ Lower productivity expectations

✔ A to do list is kinder than constant mental juggling

4️⃣ No quiet thinking time

✔ Use small pockets of time instead of waiting for perfect space

✔ Capture thoughts as they come act later

✔ Let December be for noticing, January for deciding

✔ Thinking time doesn’t need to look tidy to be useful

5️⃣ Comparison creeps in

✔ You’re seeing curated snapshots, not reality

✔ Mute what triggers pressure

✔ Focus on your business and your family

✔ Alignment always beats comparison

6️⃣ Energy depletion

✔ Build in micro-rest moments, not all-or-nothing breaks

✔ Gentle movement, hydration, breath

✔ Stop treating exhaustion like a badge of honour

✔ Rest is a business strategy

✨ A reminder for this season

Running a business as a mum at Christmas isn’t meant to look tidy.

It’s meant to be flexible.

It’s meant to bend.

It’s meant to support real life not fight against it.

You’re allowed to do things differently this month.

You’re allowed to choose ease where you can.

And this season does not define your success.

If this resonates, you’re not alone.

This Christmas im super lucky to have Lanarkshire Boss Mums Network. We have a fantastic free Facebook Group and a Business Club Membership which is super value. If you would like anymore info on either please do pop me an email back.

Ps……..Life did get easier and my tree got bigger.