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What you will learn in this episode:

• The 6 high impact actions every designer should take this December.

• How to turn year end “downtime” into a launchpad for more profit, stronger boundaries, and less overwhelm in 2026.

• Tactical tips for gifting, financial prep, and strategic rest.

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We have officially entered the magical time of year when our current clients are hard to reach or vanish, our prospective clients aren’t calling, and our personal lives all come together as we are barreling towards holiday chaos.

So, today’s episode I want to walk you through something most designers completely overlook, and that is that the holiday slowdown is not a roadblock. It is actually leverage.

So if you use the next few weeks intentionally, you’ll walk into 2026 feeling prepared, profitable, and hell, maybe even rested. And yes, we’re going to talk about that as well. So let’s break down exactly what you want to start doing now to set future you up for success.

1. Get ahead of your financials

(aka: Be kind to your future self)

Look…I get it.
No one started a design business because they love reconciling accounts.

But if you want a stress free 2026, it starts here.

December is the perfect time to rip off the bandaid and get clarity on your numbers—while things are still quiet.
Here’s what that looks like:

• Gather all your year end tax docs now (yes—now)
• Meet with your bookkeeper before they disappear for holiday mode
• Reach out to your accountant before their inbox turns into the Hunger Games
• Review your P&L with open eyes, zero judgment

And if you’re feeling called out right now because you still don’t have an accountant, or you’re using your personal tax guy for your business? This is your sign to hire one. You’re not saving money by doing it all yourself. You’re just delaying clarity (and guaranteeing a future panic attack).

I always say:
You can’t run a profitable business if you’re afraid to look at your numbers.

So open up the books, and make peace with what you see. It’s not about shame. It’s about power.

2. Send your client gifts (but do it strategically)

Yes, the classic move here is to send gifts to your clients. I do it every December, and I keep it simple but thoughtful.

Here’s my two step process:

1. I send a holiday card via email. Made on Canva.
   Inside the card, I let clients know I’ve made a charitable donation in honor of our work together. I always pick charities that support women or children (nothing political, but deeply meaningful). This year: No Kid Hungry and the Food Bank of Delaware.
2. I send a festive plant from a local, women-run florist.
   No candles, nothing scented, just a simple gesture that says “I see you, I appreciate you, and you matter to my business.” This year, it’s an amaryllis bulb with a little boxwood and some cute clip-on birds. And guess what? One client has made hers bloom three years in a row and still sends me photos.

It’s about staying top of mind, and reminding clients that good work goes both ways. Not every gesture has to be grand. Just intentional.

Bonus: in some cases, reaching out with a holiday message has even sparked new projects for the new year. (Never underestimate the power of a thoughtful follow-up.)

3. Show some love to your vendors and industry partners

This one’s optional, but powerful.

The question here isn’t “do I have to?” It’s “do I want a smoother year next year?”

Take a beat to think: Who kept your business running this year?
Contractors, architects, reps, schedulers, the people you only interact with via email but who make your projects move.

A small token goes a long way.
Whether it’s cookies, wine, or even a handwritten note.

I always keep extra bakery boxes in my car for those surprise moments when I run into someone behind the scenes, like the estimator you forgot about or the bookkeeper who saved you from an unpaid invoice.

You’re not bribing anyone. You’re just acknowledging the humans who keep your business strong. And I can’t tell you how many times that goodwill has come back tenfold the following year, especially when a tight deadline or wild client pops up.

So treat this like warm networking.
It counts.

And if you can deliver in person? Even better.

4. Clean up your office (physical and digital)

Alright, confession time:
My office right now? Let’s just say it looks like a creative tornado hit.

But here’s the deal designers are natural visionaries, which means our workspaces…kind of become battlefields. Samples everywhere. Piles of old paperwork. Random Post-its with…what even was that note about?

So this step is simple but game changing:
Take a day to reset your space.

• Return old samples
• Clear your desk
• Pack up completed project files
• Go into your inbox and file what needs to be filed

You want to start January with a studio (and a brain) that feels clean, open, and ready for new energy.
Trust me. You’ll feel it. Your clients will feel it. And your 2026 plans will actually have room to grow.

5. Plan real downtime

(Relaxation isn’t a luxury, it’s a business tool)

We need to talk about rest, because no one seems to want to.

Designers have this secret fear that if we slow down, the business will too.
But here’s the truth: Your creativity, and your decision making, both depend on you not running on fumes.

Block out actual days for downtime.
Not just “sort of working from home” days. But real time off. Even if it’s a single day for a book and a blanket. Or a quiet week where you close the laptop at 4pm and don’t apologize for it.

Your pipeline isn’t going to collapse.
And frankly? You’re more profitable when you’re rested. Because burnout is expensive.

So plan for it now. Your brain, and your business, need this.

6. Take inventory with zero judgment

Before you sprint into another year, take a quiet moment to look back.
Not to criticize. To learn.

Ask yourself:

• Which projects were profitable?
• Which projects drained you?
• Where did your systems work—and where did they fall apart?
• Which decisions were spot on?
• And which red flags did you miss?

You’re either succeeding or you’re learning. That’s it.
The goal is to not cart the same problems into January just because you’re tired right now.

Learn the lesson quietly. Make the note. Adjust the system.

Your future self will thank you.

One last thing

This is something newer for me, but it’s stuck.
Instead of New Year’s resolutions, I pick a word of the year. In 2025, my word was intentional. And honestly? I’d give myself a solid B. Maybe a B+. But you know what? That focus shifted things. Every decision felt a little more aligned, even when things got wild.

In 2026, my word is boundaries.
And I know that’s going to be a tough one. But it’s necessary. It lets the right work grow, and keeps the noise out.

So if you’re reading this and feeling a little “blah” about resolutions
Pick a word instead.
Let it anchor you throughout the year. You don’t need a ten point plan. You just need direction.

You’re not behind. You’re loading.

December isn’t the end.
It’s the backend reset for everything that’s coming next.

So breathe. Take stock. Send the card. Eat a cookie in the car.
And know that every quiet act of strategy right now is money, peace, and progress in the bank for next year.

And if you want help sorting through your end-of-year strategy?
A free call with me is on the table! Just leave a review for the podcast and email me a screenshot. I’ll walk you through whatever you’re stuck on. But fair warning—next year, I’ll be living out my “boundaries” era, so take advantage of it while it’s open.

Like this Episode?

Be sure to check out Episode #207: How Interior Designers Thrive Through the Holidays

Be sure to check out Episode #208: Reflect, Recharge & Plan for 2025

Be sure to check out Episode #202: Holiday Magic: Building Relationships and Boosting Profits