Strong Leaders Don't Collapse at the Finish Line
By Suzie Thoraval
Simple leadership choices that protect your energy in the final stretch
“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”
Every year around this time, I have a quiet word with myself.
This year, I won’t rush right up to the holiday cut-off. This year, I’ll ease into the break.
And yet, somehow, every December my calendar fills and my to-do list stretches well beyond what’s reasonable.
There are work deadlines to close out properly, people to see before the year ends, and a run of social events that all feel important in their own way. Add the mental load of planning, organising and emotionally “showing up”, and it’s a lot.
I’m an optimistic person by nature. That’s usually a strength. At this time of year, though, it means I have to constantly test my instinct to say 'yes' against the reality of what I can physically and mentally achieve in the time available.
Because there’s no real prize for collapsing at the holiday finish line, only to get sick and spend the first week of your break recovering.
This is where energy management really matters.
Why energy - not just time - is the real constraint
Research consistently shows that performance and wellbeing are limited more by energy than by hours in the day. Tony Schwartz and the Energy Project have demonstrated that sustainable performance comes from managing physical, emotional, mental and purpose-driven energy — not from simply pushing harder for longer.
When energy drops, decision quality declines, patience wears thin, and even small tasks begin to feel heavy.
There’s also solid evidence from occupational health research that chronic overextension, particularly without recovery, increases the risk of illness and burnout.
Our immune systems don’t distinguish between “good stress” like social connection and “bad stress” like work pressure. It all draws from the same reserves.
At the end of the year, those reserves are already lower than we realise.
A useful example of doing this well
One well-known example often cited in leadership circles is Barack Obama. During his American presidency, he was deliberate about protecting his energy for decisions that mattered most.
He limited unnecessary trivial choices, such as wardrobe and what he was eating, maintained routines around sleep and exercise unless there was a genuine crisis. He was disciplined about what required his direct involvement. He put in place a scheduling discipline that meant there were fewer interruptions, clear briefing formats, and strong gatekeeping by senior aides so his attention was focused on high-impact issues.
It reflected a deliberate choice to conserve energy, allowing him to lead well and stay focused on what mattered over the long term.
The principle applies just as much to us in the final weeks of the year.
Three practical suggestions for the next week
1. Revisit priorities with fresh eyes Ask yourself honestly: Does this really need to be done now, or can it wait until the new year? End-of-year urgency has a way of inflating the importance of tasks that could pause without real consequence.
Creating a short “January list” can be surprisingly relieving.
2. Be clear about ownership Another powerful question is: Does this need to be done by me? This is often where leaders quietly overextend themselves.
Delegating, deferring, or even sharing responsibility can protect energy while still ensuring things move forward.
3. Design your days for energy, not endurance In the final stretch, aim for fewer transitions and more breathing space. Build small buffers between meetings. Choose which social events you genuinely want to attend rather than defaulting to all of them.
A short walk, an early night, or a quiet morning can make an outsized difference.
Ask yourself:
Where is my energy leaking unnecessarily at the moment?
What am I saying yes to out of habit rather than intention?
What would “finishing well” actually look like for me this year?
What do I want my first week of holidays to feel like?
What’s one small boundary I could set this week that would protect my wellbeing?
Managing energy at this time of year isn’t about withdrawing or being rigid. It’s about making thoughtful choices so you arrive at your break steady, well, and able to enjoy it. The holidays are meant to restore you — and that starts with how you look after yourself in the final days leading up to them.
If this season feels full, you’re not alone. A little discernment now can go a long way toward finishing the year with clarity rather than depletion.
I’m sharing this as much as a reminder to myself as it is for you.
Looking at the next seven days, what’s one thing you could pause, delegate or let go of to finish well rather than depleted?
