The Final Sprint Before Your Holidays: Why We Make It Harder on Ourselves (and How to Do It Differently)

The countdown is on. Just one more week. A few more meetings. A few more emails. And then… vacation.

But while we dream of rest, sun, or quality time, many of us tend to push through with a final sprint towards the holidays. Projects need to be wrapped up, inboxes emptied, handovers written. “Everything must be done” – as if the world stops turning when we turn on our out-of-office.

The result? We arrive at our holiday tense, exhausted, and irritable. Instead of feeling relieved, we leave stressed. At Kokoro Business, we want to offer a healthier alternative.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

The urge to finish everything before leaving is understandable. We don’t want to leave colleagues hanging, disappoint clients, or feel anxious about unfinished work.

But this often leads to:

• unrealistic to-do lists

• overtime and overload

• more mistakes due to pressure

• emotional stress that follows us into our time off

We expect our holiday to help us recover, yet we sabotage our rest before it’s even begun.

Tips for employees: how to release the pressure

🟢 1. Let go of what isn’t necessary
Ask yourself honestly: Does this really have to be done before I leave? Or could it wait? Use a “must/nice-to-have” list to prioritize.

🟢 2. Work towards completion, not last-minute deadlines
Schedule wrap-up moments well before your last day. Leave space for the unexpected. Start your handovers a week in advance.

🟢 3. Prepare for your return
Write yourself a simple “welcome-back” list. That way, you don’t have to waste time figuring out where to pick up after your break.

🟢 4. Give yourself permission to slow down
You’re no less valuable for taking your foot off the gas. You’re human, not a machine. Slowing down is a mark of professionalism.

Tips for leaders: create a culture of breathing space

🟠 1. Name the pattern
Address the issue of pre-holiday stress openly with your team. Awareness is the first step towards change.

🟠 2. Give direction, not pressure
Help your team stay focused on what truly matters. Make it clear you don’t expect everything to be perfect before summer. Provide clarity, not chaos.

🟠 3. Lead by example
Leaders who keep rushing set the tone. Show that you also plan ahead and create space.

🟠 4. Make the return gentle
Plan for a soft landing: a meeting-free day, a short team check-in, a moment to reconnect. Remind your team that work is a marathon, not a sprint.

At Kokoro Business, we believe in a different kind of work culture.

One where people can be human, even when they’re tired. Where taking breaks is normal. Where leaders value not just output, but sustainability and wellbeing.

Healthy work habits aren’t learned from a manual. They grow from the way we treat ourselves – and each other – every day.

So if you’re reading this and feeling the final sprint creeping in… pause. Breathe. Choose differently.

You don’t need to crawl into your holiday on your last breath.
You’re allowed to leave with peace of mind.

📩 Want to build a healthier workplace culture?
Get in touch with Kokoro Business. We help organizations and teams integrate wellbeing into daily practice.