Eight ways to make the most of holiday downtime

Recognise the importance of taking time to recharge.

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The festive season in South Africa does not constitute a peak period for all businesses. In fact, numerous business-to-business (B2B) entities normally experience a decline from mid-December to mid-January. However, it is imperative for SMEs (small to medium enterprises) to capitalise on this extra time.

1. Express gratitude to customers

Take the time to express gratitude to your customers for their support throughout the past year. Consider sending personalised newsletters or, where feasible, present clients with gifts accompanied by handwritten cards. Additionally, communicate your festive season closing and re-opening dates to keep clients informed.

2. Organise and clean the office

Utilise this period to conduct a thorough office cleaning and address any necessary maintenance, such as hardware repairs or fixing leaks. Streamline physical files and cabinets, replenish office supplies and attend to any repairs required for furniture, electronics or other physical assets needed in the year ahead.

3. Do a digital cleanup

Address digital clutter by deleting unnecessary files or transferring them to offline storage. Organise digital folders, ensure adequate backups and review software licences, including anti-virus, accounting programmes or communication platforms. Settle any outstanding invoices during this time.

4. Invest in intellectual capital

Allocate time to engage with inspirational content that may have been overlooked during the year. Read books, watch videos and listen to podcasts. Research and plan workshops or training opportunities for your staff in the upcoming year.

5. Do strategic planning for 2024

Reflect on the past year, analyse trends and establish new goals. Evaluate what strategies were successful or unsuccessful and identify areas that require more attention. Collaborate with your team to brainstorm creative ideas that can benefit your business in the coming year.

6. Master a program or software

Take advantage of the downtime to master any programs or software solutions that were under-utilised during the year. Watch instructional videos and optimise technology to enhance its contribution to your business.

7. Revitalise your marketing efforts

Gain insights into your marketing endeavours from the past year and plan for enhancements. If your business isn’t online yet, register a domain, sign up for hosting and build a website. Alternatively, upgrade an existing website, enhance landing pages, improve user experience and consider scaling up web hosting or obtaining additional e-mail hosting if online resources are approaching their limits.

Develop a marketing strategy for the first quarter, write thought leadership articles and create briefs for your creative team.

8. Recharge

Recognise the importance of taking time to recharge. Even though business owners often neglect this, it is crucial for optimal performance in the new year. Engage in hobbies, meditation, retreats or outdoor activities such as hiking to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.