Running a business in December: why do we do this to ourselves?

Why is December so incredibly busy?

1. The mental reset of a new year

We like to start fresh. New plans, new goals, new structure. Which means everything still labelled “this year” suddenly feels unfinished—and must be completed. Because yes, 31 December is some kind of deadline no one officially set, yet we all follow.

2. We put unnecessary pressure on ourselves

That project could easily wait until January. Still, it feels like it has to be done now. We postpone things for months, stay optimistic… until suddenly it’s mid-November and you realise: “Ah… this is what they meant by starting on time.”

3. If you have a team, December is simply more demanding

• Finalising salaries and agreements for the new year
• Reviewing and communicating rate increases
• Updating websites and systems
• Organising end-of-year gifts
• Performance reviews
• Strategy meetings
• Presentations
• And of course, that “quickly arranged” team day

So no—it’s not just in your head. December really is more complex.

4. And yes: you could have planned ahead… but you didn’t

And honestly, that’s completely understandable. Entrepreneurs always have a top three of urgent priorities that take over. End-of-year tasks rarely feel urgent in March, June or even October—until suddenly they are.

And then comes the inevitable question…

“Could I have prevented this?” Probably.

“Will I do it differently next year?” Probably not.

“Can someone help me right now?” Absolutely. And that’s exactly where a VA comes in.

But where’s the value of a VA if you’re already too busy to delegate?

Good question. The beauty is: a VA doesn’t need weeks of onboarding. An experienced VA steps in while the engine is already running and picks up where you’re stuck—even if you don’t have time to explain everything in detail.

This is exactly how they support you during peak periods:

1. Micro handovers are enough
A 30-second voice note, a few bullet points or a screenshot is often all it takes. A VA quickly understands what needs to be done and fills in the gaps independently.

2. A VA brings structure to your chaos
Everything you need already exists somewhere—emails, notes, documents, ideas. A VA turns that into a clear, structured roadmap, without you having to organise it first.

3. December tasks are perfect VA tasks
Think of:

• Preparing rate updates and communication
• Updating website content
• Writing standard emails
• Organising and ordering end-of-year gifts
• Preparing presentations for strategy meetings
• Updating staff documentation

They’re repetitive, administrative and time-consuming—and ideal to delegate.

4. A VA clears mental clutter
Those small tasks that keep lingering? A VA finishes them before you even think about them again. It creates space, clarity and room for decision-making.

5. They bring experience and tools
Templates, checklists, processes—experienced VAs know what December demands and immediately spot hidden risks or deadlines.

6. Most importantly: a VA is not a “later” luxury
A VA isn’t something you use when you have time.
It’s something you use when you don’t.

Conclusion: December will always be busy—but you don’t have to do it alone

The final weeks of the year are intense, no matter how well you plan. There will always be tasks you postpone, priorities that shift and deadlines that creep closer than expected.

But you can avoid going through it alone. So if you’re thinking, “I don’t have time to delegate anything right now,” that’s probably exactly the moment a VA can make the biggest difference.

Marianne Sturman
CEO & Founder of Moneypenny

Feel free to get in touch—we’re happy to think along with you about what can already be taken off your plate.