Warm Holiday Wishes
As we head into the last stretch of the year, I just want to take a moment to say something you probably don’t hear often enough as a business owner:
You’ve done a lot this year. And it’s okay to be proud of that.
You’ve juggled clients, deadlines, emails, invoices, unexpected “surprises,” maybe a few plot twists you did not see coming… and you’re still here, still showing up.
This post isn’t a checklist or a how-to.
It’s simply a little pause to say: thank you, and happy holidays.
A Thank You to the Quiet Heroes of Small Business
Bookkeeping tends to attract people who see the world a little differently: we notice the patterns, the systems, the numbers behind the story. And what I see, over and over, is this:
You’re not just “running a business” — you’re creating jobs, serving clients, and holding up whole little corners of your community.
You’re figuring things out on the fly.
You’re making hard decisions that other people never see.
Whether you’re a therapist, a contractor, a nonprofit leader, a baker, a maker, or any other flavor of business owner… you are doing important work.
If you’ve spent most of the year focused on everyone else — your clients, your team, your family — I hope this season gives you even just a bit of space to recognize yourself, too.
Permission to Actually Take a Break
If your brain is still running through:
“Did I send that invoice?”
“What about 1099s?”
“Are we ready for tax season?”
“What’s our plan for next year?”
…you’re not alone. Business doesn’t exactly come with an “off” switch.
But you are allowed to:
Close the laptop.
Put an away message on your email.
Have a day (or several) where you don’t check bank balances or think about QuickBooks.
Rest isn’t laziness.
Rest is what allows you to keep going — sustainably — into the next year.
If your capacity has felt a little stretched lately (or a lot stretched), consider this your official nudge to build in some true downtime over the holidays. Your spreadsheets will be right where you left them, I promise.
Looking Back With Kindness, Not Criticism
As you mentally replay the year, you might be tempted to focus on:
The goals you didn’t hit
The projects that took longer than you thought
The things that felt harder than you expected
Try this instead:
Make a list (yes, a literal list) of things you’re proud of this year — big or small.
Include things like: “I asked for help sooner,” “I raised my rates,” “I kept going when it was hard,” or even “I finally separated my business and personal bank accounts.”
Those “little” wins add up. They’re the foundation you’ll build on in the new year.
Looking Ahead (Gently)
There will be time in January to talk about:
Year-end reports
Tax prep
1099s
Budgets and goals for the new year
For now, it’s okay if your “plan” is simply:
Enjoy the people and traditions that matter most to you
Rest your brain a bit
Come back to the numbers with fresh eyes and a clearer head
When you’re ready to dig into the planning side, I’ll be right here to help you make sense of everything and turn it into a concrete, doable plan.
From My Desk to Yours: Warm Holiday Wishes
Wherever and however you’re celebrating this season, I hope you find:
Moments of actual, honest-to-goodness peace
Laughter you didn’t have to schedule
A sense of pride in how far you’ve come this year
Thank you for trusting me with your books, your questions, and your behind-the-scenes worries. It’s truly an honor to be part of your business story.
Wishing you a warm, restful holiday season and a gentle landing into the new year. 💚
If you already know you’d like support getting your numbers ready for 2026, you can grab a spot on my calendar here: https://calendly.com/sara-dunhambookkeepingservices
