Hey,
It’s Christmas week.
Your inbox is quiet.
Clients are offline.
Projects are paused until January.
And yet, I know what many of you are thinking:
“I should be networking.”
“I should be updating my portfolio.”
“I should be planning Q1.”
“I should be productive.”
Here’s something most freelancers don’t want to hear:
Stop.
This is not the week to push harder.
You’ve just made it through one of the toughest freelance years in a long time.
Budgets were tighter.
Sales cycles were slower.
Competition was louder.
And on top of that, you didn’t just deliver projects.
You learned how to position yourself.
How to price better.
How to talk to clients.
How to protect your time.
That mental load adds up.
When freelancers are exhausted, they make bad business decisions.
They undercharge because they don’t have the energy to negotiate.
They accept red-flag clients because they want quick relief.
They miss good opportunities because their head is too full to see them clearly.
Rest is not laziness.
It’s maintenance.
The most successful freelancers I know are not the ones who grind every single day of the year.
They are the ones who know when to step back, reset, and come back sharper.
You’ve got a small window before clients return in January.
Use it wisely.
Week one: actually rest.
No guilt. No catch-up.
Week two and three, if you feel like it: reflect and plan.
Only after you’ve recharged.
Your business doesn’t need a burnt-out version of you next year.
It needs you clear, focused, and energized.
If you’re celebrating, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
And no matter how you spend these days, I hope you get the rest you need.
You’ve earned it.
– Moritz
Tiny tactical tip:
Before the year ends, write down three things that drained you this year and three things that gave you energy. Use that list in January to decide what to do less of and what to protect more fiercely.