In short: The festive season is the one stretch in the year most South African entrepreneurs actually have room to breathe, but burnout doesn’t take a holiday on its own. Founders who use the break deliberately, for reflection, rest and small habits, come back sharper than those who simply collapse for two weeks or never switch off at all.
Why is the festive break actually worth planning, not just surviving?
“Splitting your time between reflection and relaxation will mean you come back feeling refreshed with a clear idea of what you need to achieve,” says Dov Girnun, co-founder and CEO of Johannesburg-based fintech lender Merchant Capital. A break spent purely on rest, with no reflection at all, tends to produce a founder who returns just as unclear about direction as they left. A break spent purely working through the year’s problems produces one who never actually rested. Girnun’s point is that both need a deliberate slot, not an accident of however the two weeks unfold.
What actually counts as de-stressing, beyond “taking a holiday”?
Certified master coach Katlego Kolobe makes the case that de-stressing doesn’t require a trip anywhere: art, music, dancing, crafting, cooking, meditation and physical activity all qualify. For founders who can’t fully step away from the business even over the festive period, this matters, ten minutes of a genuinely absorbing hobby does more for stress than an hour of scrolling a phone while technically “resting.”
Does giving back actually help the founder, not just the recipient?
Girnun frames community giving as something that benefits the giver too, not purely altruism: “You can help someone disadvantaged with a job helping you part time, or collect client donations for a charity. Every bit helps. Community upliftment spreads awareness of your business and will often make you feel a little more human.” Starting small, one part-time role, one donation drive, is more sustainable than an ambitious gesture that burns out the person organising it.
How do successful founders actually give themselves permission to rest?
Zinhle Khumalo, founder of clothing manufacturer Ikhethelo Clothing & Textiles, treats rest as a daily requirement rather than an annual event: “I give myself permission to nourish and recharge my mind, body and spirit every day so I can meet myself where I’m at.” Mari Lee, CEO and founder of DevCom, pairs this with a daily gratitude practice: “I count my blessings every day. I love what I do and am super grateful to have a supportive environment that enables it.” Both frame rest and gratitude as habits built year-round, not something switched on only once the year’s work is done.
What do experienced founders actually do to switch off?
The specific habits vary, and that’s the point, there’s no single correct way to disconnect. Thozama Hopa, founder of Zito Aluminium and Glass, reads, plays chess and watches professional boxing specifically because it holds her attention fully enough to displace work thoughts. Jon-Marc De Carvalho, co-founder of Frost Popsicles, links his self-care directly to exercise: water polo, gym and swimming, which he describes as critical to keeping his mind clear and agile, not just his body fit. Girnun’s version is unplugging in short bursts: playing with his kids or disconnecting devices over lunch for a walk, on the basis that clearing your mind daily matters more than one long annual break.
Frequently asked questions
Is it realistic to fully switch off over the festive season if I run a small business?
Full disconnection isn’t necessary for the benefit. Short, deliberate breaks (a lunchtime walk, an hour of a real hobby) repeated daily do more for stress than waiting for one long break that may not fully materialise.
What’s a simple daily habit to build the reflection Dov Girnun recommends?
A short daily or weekly note on what worked and what didn’t, even five minutes, gives you the clarity he describes without needing a formal end-of-year review process.
Does giving back really reduce founder stress, or is that just a nice idea?
Several founders here report it does, largely because it reframes the business’s purpose beyond immediate financial pressure. Starting small (one donation, one part-time opportunity) avoids it becoming another source of stress itself.
Why do so many of these founders mention exercise specifically?
It’s one of the few habits that reliably produces a measurable mood and clarity shift within the same day, which matters when time off is short and founders need results quickly, not eventually.
Originally published in December 2019. Updated September 2026.
