5 Things to Do While It’s Quiet at Work

Welcome to that brief window every year when the pace slows just enough for you to hear yourself think.

Emails trickle in. Meetings get postponed. Decision-making pauses. And for once, the urgency eases.

For many business leaders, this quiet time feels uncomfortable. You’re used to reacting, solving, supporting, and staying two steps ahead. When things finally slow down, the instinct is to fill the space or to just kick back and relax.

This year, instead of powering through all the unfinished work or conversely, laying low through the holidays only to make January 5th the start of a new race, try some of these intentional activities to reset your energy, sharpen your focus, and set yourself up for a steadier start to the year ahead.

1. Clean Up the Invisible Work

Take time to review the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that quietly drain your energy.

• Audit recurring meetings: Which ones can be shortened, delegated, eliminated?

• Clean up email rules, folders, and notifications.

• Review standing commitments (e.g., committees, task forces, projects) and decide what no longer aligns with your role or priorities.

• Update or delete outdated documents, processes, or trackers that demand mental space.

• Clean off your desktop so it looks like your first day on the job.

Why it matters: Mental and physical clutter is exhausting and leaders carry a lot of it!

2. Strengthen the Foundation, Not Just Your To-Do List

Most leaders plan the new year like a sprint with big goals, aggressive timelines, and zero white space. Instead of jumping straight into goal-setting, focus on how you want to work and lead.

• Define your personal mission, vision, or purpose statement and how you want to show up this year.

• Define what success will look like beyond output (e.g., energy, focus, sustainability, leadership).

• Decide where you need stronger systems (e.g., delegation, communication, boundaries).

• Clarify your top 3 priorities for the first quarter.

• Plan your first 90 days with margins that intentionally leave space for the unexpected.

• Identify skills or mindsets you need to develop, not just tasks to complete.

Why it matters: Strong foundations prevent reactive leadership and constant firefighting.

3. Reset Your Energy, Not Just Your To Do List

Quiet seasons are ideal for restoring energy without pressure.

• Reflect on this past year: Where were you stretched too far? Where did you thrive?

• What adjustments can you make to feel capable, confident, and energized in the new year?

• During this quiet time, reintroduce something that brings joy or creativity into your life.

• Block time on your calendar (like meetings with yourself) for the next year to maintain that joy, chase creative pursuits, and fuel your energy tank on a regular basis.

Why it matters: Energy fuels performance. Without it, even the best plans fail.

4. Capture Leadership Lessons Learned (Before You Forget Them)

Take time to reflect so you make better choices next year:

• What leadership approaches worked well for you during the past year?

• What felt harder than it needed to be?

• What 2 or 3 leadership behaviors do you want to repeat consistently next year?

• What 1 or 2 habits do you want to build or change?

Why it matters: Reflection turns into wisdom. Wise leaders inspire others.

5. Prepare Your Team for a Strong Start

Use this time to make next year even easier for everyone, including you.

• Clarify expectations and priorities during the first week of January so the team is ready to hit the ground running.

• Create your scoreboard so the team can self-manage their progress and results.

• Identify one responsibility that you can delegate more fully next year.

• Plan one meaningful conversation that you’ll have with each team member to start the year right.

Why it matters: The more clarity your team has, the less pressure you carry.

A Final Thought

Quiet seasons at work aren’t gaps to fill. They’re opportunities to reset, realign, and recharge. When leaders use these last 2 weeks of the year intentionally, they refuel their energy tanks, increase clarity, and create momentum that lasts far into the new year.

As this year comes to a close, I would like to thank you for your business and your friendship. I am grateful for the opportunities I've had to get to know you, to learn more about your business, and to help you achieve your goals. I wish you a new year full of health, wealth, and great joy!

Merry Christmas!

Amy Pearl