If you work in food and retail, you know the next few weeks aren’t just going to be busy; they’re going to be brutal. Deadlines get tighter, demands get louder, and everyone’s running on fumes as we head into the Christmas period.
This is real talk about protecting your energy, setting boundaries, and staying sane through the festive chaos. Because I’ve been there. I suffered burnout, and it was after Christmas. All the lead-up, all the pushing through; it led me to a really horrible, sticky situation. And I want to help you prevent that for yourself.
Why This Matters Now
Being fearless doesn’t mean pushing through at all costs. It means knowing when to pause, when to push back, and when to put yourself first.
Right now, everything is going on. It’s total carnage. You’re juggling launches, everybody’s launching products in store, wanting you to review them. The factories are going full pelt. Everyone’s really busy.
And outside of work? You’re busy too. You’ve probably already been planning Christmas 2026 (because that’s what people outside the industry don’t get; we’re always thinking a year, 18 months out). You might still be getting stuff signed off while also preparing January launches.
The Hard Truth About Resilience
Here’s what I’m really passionate about: being resilient isn’t about keeping your head down and pushing through to the point of making yourself ill. It’s knowing when to stop, when to pause, and what’s important for you.
Teams are stretched. If I look back 20 years ago, the resource we have now versus what we had then is completely different. So, if you’re feeling like this is really difficult, it isn’t in your head.
As my podcast guest Nyree said earlier in the series: if you’re feeling like you’re not thriving, you’re just surviving and getting through things, it’s probably not you. It’s not your fault. Working harder isn’t going to fix a broken system.
The system can be broken in places. That’s wrong, and we’re not going to pretend it isn’t. But it’s still your responsibility ultimately to look after yourself.
Powering Through Doesn’t Make You Special
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: powering through doesn’t make you amazing. Sometimes it just papers over the cracks of lack of resource in the team. You feel like you’re doing a good thing for everybody around you, but actually you’re not calling out that there isn’t enough resource or that something simply isn’t possible.
Being fearless is actually saying the things that need to be said:
- “I don’t have the capacity for that right now”
- “That’s going to have to wait until January”
- “I need a break”
Admitting you need a break is not a bad thing. In fact, as Nyree pointed out, one of the bravest things we can do is put boundaries in place. She owns her own business and actively tries to break the rules, but she still feels guilty when she says things like, “I’m leaving now to do the school run and I’m not going to be back for the rest of the day.”
But you don’t have to feel guilty. Sometimes we feel like we need permission for absolutely everything, but a lot of the time we have to give ourselves permission.
It’s Not Just Work, Either
Think about what you could say no to outside of work. By saying no to one thing, you might be saying yes to something else that matters more.
This is the time of year when everyone wants Christmas drinks, there are a million school plays if you have kids, and it’s just too much. The world of work is not set up to support us to do all these things. It is not you that is the problem; it’s the system that makes us feel like we have to do everything and be perfect at everything.
Your Survival Toolkit: Practical Tips
1. Define Your Non-Negotiables
What do you need to protect your time and energy? This looks different for everyone.
For me, I’ve put a meeting block in my diary before 9:30am; people can’t book into that time. It gives me quiet time in the morning and sets me up for the rest of the day. I’ve got much better at time blocking so I have time for meals and breaks without my calendar filling up with back-to-back meetings.
I’m not sitting here saying take an hour’s lunch break every day; in the real world, that doesn’t happen. But could you eat your lunch without doing work at the same time? Not for long, but just enough to give yourself a break. Those micro-breaks throughout the day make a massive difference in how well you can cope and the capacity you have.
2. Practice Your Capacity Language
Get practiced at using constructive language to push back when people ask you to do things. Have some stock phrases ready:
- “I can absolutely do that for you, but it will mean I have to push this thing back”
- “To do that well, I need an extra week on the deadline”
- “I can do that, but which one is the priority?”
The more you practice this language, the less scary it feels. Be honest and realistic about what you can get done.
3. Be Honest About What’s Realistic
Stop trying to be Superman or Superwoman. Set boundaries with your team, suppliers, customers, and sometimes your boss too.
If you’re constantly getting interrupted with “Can I just have a minute?” or “Can you just help me with this?” say, “Actually, now isn’t a good time, but I can come back to you at 4 o’clock.”
Setting boundaries doesn’t have to be scary. It can be gentle. It’s just about not automatically saying ‘yes’ every time somebody asks for a piece of you and your time.
4. Let Go of Perfect
Get clear on when good enough is good enough.
I was massively guilty of this in my career in food manufacturing. For a long time, I was a complete perfectionist about certain things. My PowerPoints had to be amazing because I was known for doing really good presentations. But sometimes I probably spent too much time making sure they looked great when they just needed to be done and out the door.
Where are you setting the bar a little too high for yourself, your team, or the people around you? When is good enough actually good enough?
Remember: These Tips Apply Outside Work Too
All four of these strategies work outside the office as well:
- Where do you need to start saying no to things?
- Where do you need to be more honest and set better boundaries with yourself?
- Where can you stop feeling like you have to be perfect in the lead-up to Christmas?
Lessons from the Season
Looking back at conversations throughout my podcast season, some powerful themes emerged:
You’re not the problem. Nyree talked about her realisation after having her child that she wasn’t the problem – the system was. We need to question the rules and the unwritten rules. We create these expectations in our heads about what’s required of us, and they’re deeply rooted in how the world of work operates. But you are not the problem. Start taking some control back for yourself.
Create safety to fail. Breige talked about knowing you’re not always going to get it right but creating that security and safe environment where you can get things wrong. If you lead a team, how can you make it safer for people to say, “Actually, I’m struggling” or “I’ve messed up”? Do it yourself first; be vulnerable. That allows others to be vulnerable too.
Reach out for support. Breige also talked about how many people supported her throughout her career. If you’re struggling in the next few weeks (or ever), reach out to your safe people who will support you. Generally, people want to help other people. If you’re struggling, it’s okay to ask for help.
When I look back on my burnout, I wish I had asked for help myself.
Your Permission Slip
If there’s one thing I want you to take away, it’s this: you are not alone, and it’s okay to ask for help.
The pressure is real. You’re not making it up. It’s not you failing. The pressure on us in the world at the moment is real, and it isn’t sustainable.
It’s okay to pause, but no one’s going to do that pause for you. You’ve got to do it yourself.
Being fearless is about choosing where you spend your energy. Rest is strategic, not selfish. It means you can keep going for longer.
So, here’s your permission slip (not that you need it): go and rest.
Know that you are not alone if you’re struggling at this time of year. The food industry is relentless right now. We’re juggling so much.
And if no one else has said this to you this month, this week, this year: you are doing brilliantly. You can do this. Keep going.
Want more support navigating the challenges of working in food and retail? Let’s talk soon.
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