Life is busy and there's just so many things to remember. What tools do you use to help you keep on top of ALL the things?

It's easy to react or respond quickly to messages and the like. It's better to do that mindfully. That's why I try to Practice The Pause.

Boundaries are important in life. Today we look at what that means in business.

Taking time off during the holiday period means returning to an overflowing inbox that creates immediate overwhelm. Everyone tries to squeeze in one last request before Christmas, your inbox fills rapidly, and the temptation to reply when you should be resting undermines your break. Without proper boundaries and systems, you either sacrifice your time off responding to emails or face hundreds of messages demanding attention the moment you return.

In this episode, Charly covers:

✅ Setting up auto-responders with clear boundaries and response timeframes
📌 Using filters and folders to automatically sort incoming messages by priority
🔗 Creating smart email forwarding rules for genuinely urgent matters
✅ Unsubscribing from newsletters and archiving old threads before you leave
📌 Turning off push notifications for a genuine break from constant pinging
🛡️ Managing your inbox strategically when you return rather than chronologically

The inbox explosion happens because clients see the calendar ...

December cash flow becomes problematic when clients shut down early, accounts teams disappear on holiday, and payments stall. Your expenses increase from holiday stock and staffing whilst income slows dramatically between mid-December and late January. Waiting until payment problems occur leaves you scrambling to chase invoices during the busiest time of year. Setting up automated reminders and recurring billing now prevents the cash flow crunch that catches many businesses off guard.

In this episode, Charly covers:

✅ Using recurring invoices to ensure billing happens automatically
📌 Setting up polite automated payment reminders before invoices become overdue
🔗 Sending invoices earlier with extended payment terms during December
✅ Configuring holiday-friendly wording in automated reminder templates
📌 Checking CRM and accounting system connections before the rush
🛡️ Scheduling thank-you messages that double as subtle payment nudges

Most payment delays during holiday periods are not intentional ...

Heading into the holiday period without confirming your critical systems are working creates unnecessary risk. Discovering your website is down, your payment processor has stopped working, or your contact forms are routing to deleted email addresses whilst you are trying to enjoy time off forces stressful emergency responses. Running systematic tech checks now means you can actually take your break knowing your business systems will function reliably without constant monitoring.

In this episode, Charly covers:

✅ Setting up website uptime monitoring and email delivery verification
📌 Testing payment systems, contact forms, and automation workflows
🔗 Creating proper backup systems with off-site storage before you leave
✅ Checking SSL certificate expiration dates to prevent website errors
📌 Ensuring team members have appropriate access to critical systems
🛡️ Configuring auto-responders, email forwarding, and calendar blocks

Small oversights compound during holiday periods when response times are ...