When the holidays stop feeling joyful Managing stress and seasonal strain
For directors and business owners, stress can feel like an accepted part of the job. Long hours, financial pressures, and the constant need to make the right decision can all take their toll.
As the year ends, this pressure can intensify. Targets to be met, clients demand attention, and the festive season brings added social and financial expectations. This combination often leads to what many professionals experience as festive burnout.
The end of the year should be a time to recharge, yet many business leaders find themselves exhausted, juggling company obligations with personal ones. The stress of “finishing strong” before the holidays, combined with family pressures, can result in emotional exhaustion, irritability, and reduced motivation.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is more than just the winter blues. It’s a form of depression triggered by reduced daylight and changing seasons, often peaking during the colder, darker months. (Source: Mind)
For professionals already battling stress and fatigue, SAD can magnify symptoms such as:
- Low energy and difficulty concentrating
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Feelings of hopelessness or irritability
Organisational impact
Reduced productivity, absenteeism, and decision fatigue can impact an organisation’s bottom line just as significantly as financial mismanagement or poor strategy. With proactive preparation and thoughtful planning, many of these symptoms and stresses can be alleviated before they take hold.
Tips for managing stress and seasonal strain
- Set boundaries: Clearly define work hours, holidays and annual leave periods, and stick to them as much as possible. Avoid taking work home and resist the urge to check emails or take calls during the festive period, unless absolutely necessary.
- Take a moment to step back: Reflect not only on what your business has achieved but on how you’ve supported yourself and those around you.
- Seek support: if stress becomes overwhelming, don’t hesitate to seek support, whether it’s through a mentor, a coach, or a mental health professional. Having someone to talk to can provide perspective and relief. You may wish to consider personal private health insurance which may provide access to services such as therapy, counselling, and medication*.
Taking these tips into account can help protect directors’ wellbeing, maintain strong performance, and set you up to enter 2026 with renewed energy, focus, and clarity.
PROFESSIONAL BENEFITS PROGRAMME
We want to help keep you feeling your best and your business thriving, which is why we work with health insurance broker, Insured Health, to make finding the right cover for you simpler.
As an IoD member, you benefit from 10% discount** on Bupa By You health insurance. Plus, you can benefit from an extra 10% discount† when adding family cover to your policy, and can also cover all your children for the price of one††.
*pre-existing conditions not covered.
**Applies to eligible Institute of Directors members on quotes for new Bupa By You policies, and is not available in conjunction with any other offer (e.g. months free, guided care options). Discount will be reviewed on 22/10/2026 and any changes will apply to renewals and new quotes thereafter. Quotes are valid for 14 days. See full terms and conditions here.
†Families pay 10% less for a joint policy compared to the price of separate policies for each family member. Cover must include at least one adult and one or more children. Children do not have to live at the same address as the main member. This offer applies to the Bupa By You Comprehensive and Treatment and Care health insurance policies. This offer may change or be unavailable when you renew. See full terms and conditions here.
††Add more than one child under 20 years old to your policy and you’ll only pay for the eldest child, no matter how many more children you add. Children aged 20 or over cannot receive free cover or count as an ‘eldest child’ for this offer. Cover must include at least two children aged 19 or under. You’ll still receive our 10% family discount if you have free child cover. Children do not have to live at the same address as the main member. This offer may change or be unavailable when you renew. This offer applies to the Bupa By You Comprehensive and Treatment and Care health insurance policies. This offer may change or be unavailable when you renew. See full terms and conditions here.
Institute of Directors is an introducer to Insured Health Ltd. Insured Health Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No: 9886202. Registered office: Saville House, 74-90 Savile Street, Sheffield, S4 7UD.
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales with registration number 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales with registration number 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.
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