Christmas is a time for resting
Like most businesses, Triangle Software will be shutting down for the Christmas period soon. We’re closing sometime on Christmas Eve but I know some businesses have already started closing a week earlier.
Somebody outside the business commented to me that this meant a lot of lost productivity and they were quite proud to be closing only for the statutory holidays. I have to say I am quite passionately opposed to that attitude for all sorts of reasons.
It’s tempting to say that in an industry like ours, the high level of constant brain work under pressure leads to equally high levels of burn-out, but it seems this is now true of almost any industry as businesses deal with tougher times, perhaps with fewer people.
My own view is that given a complete break over Christmas, our developers come back rested and ready for an even more challenging year. Far from losing productivity by closing the office, I’m sure we gain it in the longer run by having well-rested, healthier and happier staff. If as a business owner you cannot reconcile this with closed doors and zero output, think of the good-will you’ll reap by showing your staff you actually care enough not to kill them with overwork!
There’s also lots of warm fuzziness to be gained by keeping the heating off for 10 days and not lighting up the planet unnecessarily, but if that doesn’t do it for you and looking after your people doesn’t appeal, think about yourself. I certainly do some thinking and planning over Christmas, but without the day-to-day process of running a business going on, I’m positive I’m more creative and as a result will come back in the New Year enthused, charged-up, and full of ideas.
If you don’t close down for Christmas - try it! You will run a better business next year as a result.
