Episode 267: How To Make Time For YOU As A Busy Pet Business Owner During The Holidays

Picture this: You are so busy you have clients lining up to get your amazing services for the holidays. You are so busy that you start to think.. wait what about my employees? How do I schedule this? What about those plans I made with my family? All these questions and thoughts run through your mind leaving you feeling overwhelmed and confused about how to handle it. What if I told you it doesn't have to be this way. What if there was a way to handle all of this and still make time for you? Biggest Takeaways Altogether, this podcast is about setting good expectations, planning for changes in business and systems, and creating boundaries. You started this business for a reason and you have the power to run things how you need to. Why Did You Start? Think about why you started your pet business in the first place. This reason alone can provide you with motivation and inspiration to set systems in play that set you up for success and allow you to make time for yourself. You Have Control This is YOUR business and you have control over it. You do not have to work for your business it needs to work for you and you have the power to make that happen. When your business works for you making time for you becomes a normal and easy to maintain. A Valuable Lesson For A Healthier Life Show Highlights Remember why you started [11:20] You have the power [18:20] Employee and client love [26:55] Links JazzHR Gift Idea Blogs Mastermind Better Marketing with Bella Let's Connect Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review! Click this link – Bella In Your Business Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section Click on ‘Write a Review’' Are You New Here? Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below. Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here. Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here. Transcript: This is episode 267 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book, The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump. Welcome everybody to another episode of Bella in Your Business. I’m your host, Bella Vasta, and today we’re going to talk about how to make time for you as a busy pet business owner during the holidays. We all know that when the holidays come around, it gets absolutely insane, especially if you’re in the pet industry. Clients are traveling, you’re working long hours, you’ve got staff to manage, and somehow you’re also supposed to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends. But how do you actually do that? How do you not lose yourself in all the chaos? I’m going to give you some real talk today and some practical ways you can create space for yourself without letting your business fall apart or disappointing your clients. The first thing we need to recognize is that your time is your most valuable asset. If you don’t protect it, no one else will. When you’re constantly saying yes to every single client request, every pet visit, or every last-minute booking, you’re actually saying no to yourself, your family, and your mental health. So, step one: boundaries. I know, I know—you’ve heard it before. But I’m not just talking about saying no. I’m talking about designing your business and schedule in a way that automatically enforces boundaries for you. For example, make sure your booking software has cut-off times for new reservations. Set your communication expectations clearly—something like “We respond to all messages within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.” When people know what to expect, they respect your time more. Step two: delegate like your sanity depends on it—because it does. You can’t do it all, especially during the holidays. If you have staff, empower them. Let them handle the day-to-day so you can focus on high-level tasks or simply rest. If you don’t have staff yet, consider hiring temporary help or outsourcing some of your personal tasks. Grocery delivery, dog walking for your own pets, or even a cleaning service can free up valuable hours and mental space. Step three: schedule your personal time as if it were an appointment with your most important client—because it is. Put it on your calendar. Don’t say “I’ll rest when I can.” No, block it off. Whether it’s a morning walk without your phone, an evening bath, a coffee date with a friend, or watching a cheesy Christmas movie—schedule it and honor it. The fourth thing I want to talk about is guilt. The guilt that comes when you finally take time for yourself. You might be thinking, “If I’m not working, my clients will think I’m lazy,” or “If I take a day off, something will fall apart.” Let me be blunt: that guilt is lying to you. You cannot pour from an empty cup. When you rest and recharge, you show up better for your clients, your team, and your family. The world won’t fall apart because you took a nap or spent the afternoon baking cookies. Step five: be intentional about the work you’re doing. You might have heard me talk about the “100-Day Client Experience” or systems that make your business run like a machine. When you have strong systems in place, you can step away without everything crashing. Review your SOPs before the holidays. Make sure your team knows what to do if you’re unavailable. This will allow you to actually relax and not constantly check your phone. And here’s something that I really want you to think about—why did you start your business in the first place? Probably for freedom, flexibility, and more control over your time. But if your business owns you during the holidays, are you really living that out? Your business should serve you, not the other way around. Now, I know it’s hard to slow down. Trust me, I’ve been there. But you have to decide—do you want to be reactive or intentional? Do you want to end the year burnt out or balanced? The choice is yours, and it starts with one small change at a time. So here’s your challenge this week: choose one area where you can create more space for yourself. Maybe it’s setting up a clear out-of-office message. Maybe it’s saying no to one more client. Maybe it’s planning a day next week just for you. Do something that honors your time and your well-being. You deserve joy this season too—not just your clients and their pets. And if you’re listening to this thinking, “Bella, I need help building those systems or setting those boundaries,” that’s exactly what I help my coaching clients with. You don’t have to do this alone. This has been another episode of Bella in Your Business. Thank you so much for spending this time with me. Remember, when life gets you down, always keep jumping. And happy holidays to you and your loved ones. So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did because I put a lot of love into this for you. And the best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and go ahead and leave a review. I just might read it on the next episode. I also want to remind you that when life gets you down, remember to always keep jumping. Thanks for listening.