Working Through the Summer Holidays (Without Losing the Plot)

15 Jul

Let’s talk about the summer juggle.

Six weeks of school holidays.

Minimal childcare.

Clients still needing things done.

And a house that somehow produces 47 snack requests by lunchtime.

If you’re a business owner with a family, summer can feel like a logistical puzzle with no clear solution. Especially when your work is the kind that can’t just pause.

As an Online Business Manager, my job doesn’t stop for summer – I’m still jumping into client meetings, doing check-ins, handling those all-important day-to-day tasks, and making sure longer-term projects keep ticking over behind the scenes.

Here’s how I do it (honestly, not perfectly) – and how I help my clients do the same.

I keep mornings for work, afternoons for life (mostly)

This rhythm works for me.

I keep my mornings for focused online work – joining calls, sending updates, nudging things along, solving small problems before they become big ones.

Then I step away in the afternoons for the beach, the arcades, the inevitable sibling squabble mediation, or sometimes just a breather..

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to copy my routine.

The goal is to find a rhythm that fits your summer setup – and protect it as best you can.

I help clients get ahead before the holidays start

I always check in with clients and ask:

What can we prep now?
What can we automate or schedule?
What’s going to need gentle oversight while you’re offline?

We might refresh their onboarding, tidy up email templates, or create a “minimum viable content plan.” That way, they’re not trying to write newsletters from soft play or chase contracts while camping.

It means they can step away without everything grinding to a halt.

I get real about capacity (with myself and my clients)

I don’t take on big new projects in July/August.

I extend turnaround times.

And I let clients know exactly what I can support with – and what might need to wait.

Setting expectations = less guilt for everyone.

And most importantly? I keep things flexible

Some days just don’t go to plan.

A client sends a last-minute request.

The kids need more attention than expected.

Or I simply hit a wall and need to take the pressure off.

So I’ve learned to hold my schedule lightly. I still have a structure – mornings for work, afternoons for life – but I don’t cling to it when things shift. Because they will.

Flexibility for me isn’t about perfectly time-blocked days or squeezing every minute dry.

It’s about knowing what must be done, what can wait, and being able to move things around without everything falling apart.

I also stay in close communication with my clients, so if something urgent comes in, I can prioritise it calmly – and they know they’re still supported, even if I’m not sat at my desk 9–5.

It’s not about doing everything – it’s about doing the right things, in a way that fits real life.

If you’re navigating the juggle too…

Here’s your reminder that you don’t have to do it all alone.

Over the summer, the support I offer often looks like:

Keeping an eye on inboxes so they can properly switch off without coming back to chaos
Making sure invoices are still going out – and being followed up if needed
Keeping longer-term projects moving quietly in the background – checking in with collaborators, updating timelines, keeping things on track
Handling those quick turnaround tasks they’d usually do themselves, so nothing gets missed
Tidying up client-facing materials before a new launch or busy September – like proposals, onboarding emails, or template updates
And sometimes? Just being that calm, capable presence behind the scenes so they can breathe easier and focus on life outside of work

It’s not about doing everything – it’s about doing the right things at the right time, in a way that makes their business feel supported even when they’re not in it every day.

That’s the kind of help I love to offer – especially when life’s a bit full on.

Need help getting set for summer – or staying afloat during it?

From one-off sessions to ongoing support, I’ve got your back. Let’s make space for work and life.

Sadie Finch