Sarah Francis’ Post

It’s like Christmas magic… except the only thing multiplying is the number on the scale. If your office looks anything like most around the holidays, you know the drill: ☕️ Coffee break? Grab a handful of peanut brittle. 🎄 Team meeting? Oh look, another tray of sugar cookies. 🥂 Office party? “It’s the holidays—I’ll start fresh in January.” You’re not alone. It’s two weeks of feeling like you have zero self-control. And by the end, you’re frustrated, bloated, and already dreading the January “clean slate” you’ve done a dozen times before. Here’s the thing: it’s not about self-control. High-achieving women like you have no shortage of discipline. You’ve crushed big goals in your career, managed teams, run households, and hit deadlines no matter what. But when it comes to food, fitness, and navigating a busy life? It’s easy to fall into the “all or nothing” trap. All-in on holiday indulgence. All-out come January 1st. So here’s a thought for you this Christmas: What if you didn’t need to “start over” next year? What if you could enjoy the cookies and feel confident in your body and with your choices at the same time? The problem isn’t you. It’s the approach. You don’t need another quick fix. You need a strategy that works with your life—holidays and all. If you’re tired of hitting plateaus and swearing “this time will be different,” let’s connect. Because this January? You deserve to step into the new year feeling healthy, happy, & ahead —not starting over.

🎯 Focus on What Matters This Christmas This time of year can feel like a whirlwind—juggling work, festive plans, and an ever-growing to-do list. 🎄 But when you're pulled in every direction, it’s easy to lose sight of your target. This December, try this: 1️⃣ Pick Your Priority – What really matters to you right now? A work goal, family time, or simply making it to the end of the year feeling calm and in control? 2️⃣ Trim the Tinsel – Not every task on your list needs to happen. Be ruthless with the unnecessary and focus on the things that bring you joy or progress. 3️⃣ Take Tiny Actions – Feeling overwhelmed often comes from inaction. Break down your big goals into bite-sized steps. Even the smallest action can help you feel back on track. Your focus is your superpower. Aim it wisely, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve - even during the busiest time of year. What’s your target this Christmas? 🎯 Let me know in the comments! #HitYourTarget #FocusActSucceedTransform #OvercomingOverwhelm #ChristmasGoals

🎄 The Christmas Countdown is On! 🎄 My husband and I have been feeling the overwhelm lately with everything we need to get done before the Christmas break. We’re hosting the family this year, and between planning for that and keeping up with our workload, the list of tasks feels never-ending! The sheer amount of work we need to get through before we can fully switch off for family time is a significant contributor to the stress. But instead of letting it all build up, we’ve decided to take action and create a plan to tackle it bit by bit—“eating that elephant one bite at a time,” as the saying goes. 🐘 We’ve broken down our massive to-do list into smaller, manageable tasks, not just at home but also in our work life. By setting daily goals and making sure we’re clearing the decks, we’re keeping the balance and ensuring we’ll be able to close down properly for Christmas, knowing everything is in place for a fresh start in the new year. If you’re feeling the holiday crunch and work stress too, remember—it’s not about doing everything at once. Take it one step at a time, clear what’s most important, and soon enough, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the season with your loved ones. 🎅🎄 How are you handling your holiday preparations and workload? Drop your tips or share your progress in the comments! #HolidayPrep #WorkLifeBalance #EatTheElephant #OneStepAtATime #ChristmasCountdown #empoweredtransformation #empoweredtransformationalcoaching

7 Things Not To Do Over the Holidays Your team deserves a break. Let them rest, recharge and come back energised. They deserve it. Here's what not to do while they’re away: 1. Don’t contact them ↳ Unless it’s truly urgent, let them enjoy their time. 2. Don’t plan important meetings while they’re away ↳ If their voice matters, don’t schedule key discussions without them. 3. Don’t make big changes ↳ Imagine coming back to find your hard work completely rearranged. 4. Don’t let urgent tasks pile up ↳ Plan ahead. If something can’t wait, find a way of doing it without them. 5. Don’t overwhelm them on day one ↳ Give them space to catch up before giving them new tasks. 6. Don’t forget to tell others they’re away ↳ Make it clear who to contact instead to avoid unnecessary stress. 7. Don’t skip the welcome back ↳ This shows you value them as people, not just employees. Work slows down over the holidays. Handle the festive season thoughtfully, and your team will come back ready to hit the ground running. How was your Christmas Day? - - - - - Share and repost if you liked this ♻️ And follow me, Jonny Tooze , for more.

As we approach the holiday season, it's crucial to reflect on the impact of our leadership practices. Jonny Tooze highlights some essential reminders on how to support our teams during this time. 1. Give your employees the space they need to truly disconnect and recharge. 2. Avoid scheduling important meetings while team members are away. Their insights are valuable and should not be sidelined. 3. Be cautious with any major changes. Consider the implications for the team when they return. 4. Plan ahead to manage urgent tasks so that the workload does not overwhelm them upon their return. 5. Allow for a smooth transition back to work. Give them time to catch up before placing new responsibilities on their plate. 6. Communicate their absence to others, ensuring that unnecessary stress is mitigated. 7. Finally, make sure to welcome them back warmly. This simple gesture shows that you value them as individuals, not just as employees. By managing the holiday season thoughtfully, we can ensure our teams come back motivated and ready to contribute effectively. Let's lead with intention and care during this festive time.

TIP 4/8: ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH EASE AND INTENTION 🌟 Prioritise Rest and Reflection 🌟 A jam-packed schedule is like an overloaded circuit—when too many devices are plugged in at once, the system becomes overwhelmed and shuts down. Similarly, when we try to do everything, we risk burnout, leaving no energy for what truly matters. Prioritising rest and reflection is like flipping the switch to reset the circuit. It allows you to unplug unnecessary commitments, recharge your energy, and focus on powering the moments that bring the most joy and meaning. This Christmas, consider how you can create space—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally—for what truly matters. By intentionally creating space, you ensure that your system stays balanced and capable of handling what’s truly important. Why Rest and Reflection Matter: 🎄 Taking time to recharge helps you navigate the season with more energy and joy, rather than stress and fatigue. 🎄 Pausing to reflect helps you reconnect with what’s most meaningful, guiding your decisions and actions during the holidays. 🎄 Just as a circuit functions best when it’s not overloaded, we thrive when we create room to breathe, recharge, and focus on what truly matters. How to Prioritize Rest and Reflection: 1️⃣ Block out periods in your calendar for rest, whether it’s a quiet cup of tea, a walk in nature, or simply time to do nothing. 2️⃣ Take a few moments each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for this season. This simple practice can shift your perspective and bring a sense of calm. 3️⃣ Protect your space by setting boundaries around your time and commitments. Reflection Question: What’s one way you can create space for rest and reflection today? Feel free to share your thoughts below—I’d love to hear how you’re making room for yourself this Christmas! 🌱✨

Is it just me, or is the holiday hustle real? So here’s the deal: Christmas holidays are here, and everyone’s either sipping eggnog or wrapping presents, living their best festive lives... and then there’s me.... On one side, my workaholic brain is whispering: 'Hey, shouldn’t you be emailing that client or scheduling that campaign?' And on the other side, the compassionate me is like: 'Chill, it’s Christmas! Let people enjoy their jingle bell vibes without work interruptions.' But let’s be real, it’s tough! I feel guilty for not working and equally guilty for thinking about working. Is this the holiday dilemma no one warned us about?! What about you? Are you fully unplugging, sneaking in some work, or just vibing with the chaos? Let me know how you’re navigating this season! Also, is it actually okay to hit up clients during Christmas? Or should we all just step away from the laptop and let the auto-replies do their thing? 🤔 Lemme know your thoughts while I overthink this some more. Happy holidays, y’all!  ___ Share it ♻️ and follow me, Fatima B. for more posts and weekly updates. #WorkaholicLife #HolidayHustle #ChristmasConfessions #WorkLifeBalance #HolidayDilemma #WorkModeOnOrOff

Before we all hit pause for the holidays, get these done today and thank me later… It’s Christmas Eve, and I know we’re all itching to kick back, relax, and enjoy the season. But before I log off for Christmas, here’s what I’m doing today to make sure I can actually relax without stressing about work: - Wrapping up unfinished tasks: That email I’ve been avoiding? It’s getting sent today. Those small to-dos? Crossing them off. - Planning next week: Even though I’ll be taking it slow, a little planning now means I won’t feel overwhelmed when I’m back. - Backing up everything: Files, drafts, notes—everything. Because losing work during the holidays? That’s a nightmare. - Sending thank-you messages: To my clients, my team, and everyone who made this year special. Gratitude feels good, especially this time of year. - Setting my out-of-office: So no one’s left wondering why I didn’t reply to that one email. It’s nothing fancy, just the basics. But doing these things now means I can really switch off and enjoy the week ahead. So, before you dive into holiday mode, give this list a quick go. You’ll feel lighter, I promise. Now, go enjoy Christmas!🎄 And don't forget to follow your SMM girl at Lovely Dutta 🤍 . . #ChristmasEve #HolidayChecklist #StressFreeHolidays #WorkLifeBalance #Grateful

'Tis the season No, not that, again, but something a little different. I am at a client site, and they shut down from Christmas through the New Year's holiday. They'll be completely closed from 12/25 until they reopen again 1/2. OOO email template has been shared, signs on the doors stating the upcoming closing, conversations being had with clients and vendors and partners. And even though my client has been doing this for some time, a long time, some employees are a little hesitant in their communication. A few "um's" and "yeah, we are lucky". This client is in the states, so it's not the norm. If we were in Europe, I think it would be a different story. OOO email would be "see ya next year", conversations would flow very easily, and people on the other end of that conversation would be saying the same exact thing. This isn't a post about one being better, but rather a post about culture. You see, we are all conditioned to a culture. It's not bad, it just is. Here's one for you: I worked at a company where someone with many many years of experience said "this is a first, I've never had Christmas day off, I'm not sure what I am going to do". I chuckled, but realized that it's not weird, it's just different. So for those of you taking the holidays off? Enjoy. So for those that are working during the holidays? Enjoy So for those that are taking the holidays off, as is everyone else you interact with? Enjoy

5 Days to Christmas! 🎄 It's that time of year again! Are you scrambling around in the Christmas rush to get those last-minute things done? With only five days left, the festive chaos is in full swing. 🎁 I get how hard it can be to juggle a busy work schedule with the fun of preparing for the holidays. From finishing up work projects to finding that perfect gift, this season can be both fun and stressful. I try to plan everything carefully to avoid stress, but it's the excitement of last-minute plans that often brings out the real spirit of Christmas. It's important to take a moment to enjoy the weekend even with the holiday rush. Whether you're catching up with family, finishing your shopping, or just taking a break, remember to enjoy these moments. Let's share our weekend plans and how we're getting ready for Christmas in the comments below! If you need any career advice or are looking for the perfect job to start the New Year, visit www.hsquaredtalent.co.uk. Enjoy the weekend and the countdown to Christmas! 🎅✨ #ChristmasCountdown #WeekendVibes #Holidays2024