Take a Break. If You’re Not, Read This
Not fully switching off over the holidays? This guide outlines five high-impact areas teams can focus on beyond BAU once peak sales ends.
The biggest sales period of the year is behind us. Peak demand, promotions, year-end delivery, done.
For teams across the business, this creates a rare moment.
A moment where the day-to-day slows just enough to step out of Business as Usual. Not to create more work, but to finally address what’s been quietly accumulating in the background.
You can take a well-earned break.
Or, if there’s appetite to keep momentum without pressure, this is one of the most effective windows of the year to reset the backend.
Here are five ways to use that time well.
1. Review that “Long-Overdue” List, then prioritise it properly
Every team has a running list that never quite gets attention:
The software that needs reviewing or replacing
The sustainability partner or framework that’s no longer fit for purpose
The CRM, finance tool, or planning system everyone works around
This isn’t about adding more tools.
It’s about deciding what actually deserves focus next.
Shortlist. Rank by impact. Remove what won’t materially change outcomes.
Momentum comes from focus, not options.
2. Set a Practical 2026 (or at least H1) Plan
Most startups don’t land a clean annual plan, not because strategy is missing, but because delivery always comes first.
This quieter period creates space to:
Review what truly worked (not what looked busy)
Identify what stalled or created drag
Apply the 70 / 20 / 10 framework
70% core execution
20% optimisation
10% bets and moonshots
The goal isn’t precision.
It’s alignment and direction before the year accelerates again.
Read more about the 70/20/10 rule.
3. Take Stock of the Team, calmly and clearly
Not performance reviews.
Not restructures.
But a check against initial objectives.
Where did delivery extend beyond planned scope during peak periods?
Who consistently delivered above expectations against the objectives?
Where is delivery dependent on overtime or informal workarounds?
Bonus point for a non-biased review, focused on the annual objectives rather than simple reasoning.
4. Revisit the “Known Issues” List
Every organisation has a short list of recurring problems:
Data inconsistencies
Broken handovers
Unclear ownership
Lack of accountability
The question isn’t whether they exist, it’s whether they’ve been resolved or normalised.
If the same issues are still on the list for 2026, that’s no longer a backlog.
It’s a choice.
5. Clean Up the Backend While It’s Still Manageable
This is the least visible work, and often the most valuable.
System hygiene
Process documentation that reflects reality
Removing workarounds that have quietly become permanent
This is the window to reduce operational debt before growth, complexity, or new hires expose it.
A Final Note
This period isn’t about pushing harder or proving productivity.
It’s about creating conditions where the next phase runs cleaner, calmer, and with fewer compromises baked in.
Whether you fully switch off, or quietly reset the foundations, this period matters more than most realise.
If support is useful across any of these areas, The Ops Engine is available from January.
Onwards.
At The Engine Room, we unpack what operational excellence really looks like, because growth isn't magic, it's method. If you're scaling and the cracks are starting to show, get in touch.
