Back to Busy (Without the Burnout)
How We Re-Layer Workflows After Vacation Season
Summer has a way of loosening our grip on the clock — and that’s not a bad thing. Between family trips, long weekends, and the general slowdown that seems to happen when the sun is out later, our usual routines tend to bend and stretch. Even if you’re not technically “out of office” for weeks at a time, the energy of the season often shifts your focus away from rigid structure.
When September rolls in (or whenever your busy season picks back up), it’s normal to feel a little out of sync. Maybe you’ve got projects lingering in “almost done” status. Maybe your calendar is cluttered with meetings that somehow crept back in. Or maybe your systems feel… a little dusty.
That’s where re-layering your workflows comes in. Think of it as setting fresh foundation stones after a season of change — not tearing everything down, but reinforcing the pieces that keep your business steady and intentional. At Lawson House, we use three main steps to get our post-vacation groove back.
Step One: Assess Your Current Workflow
When you return from vacation, you’re often looking at your business with a clearer lens. The distance gives you perspective on what’s working and what’s not. This is the perfect time to run your operations through our Keep, Ditch, Delegate framework (you might remember this from one of our earlier blogs).
Keep the tasks and processes that are still efficient, aligned, and producing results.
Ditch the ones that feel like busywork or bottlenecks.
Delegate the responsibilities that could be done just as well — or better — by someone else, whether that’s a team member, a contractor, or a piece of software.
We find this exercise is especially helpful right after vacation because you’re less likely to cling to “the way it’s always been done.” You’re operating with a fresh perspective, which makes it easier to let go of old habits.
Step Two: Give Your Calendar a Clean-Up
Vacation time reminds you just how valuable your hours are — and how much more creative and productive you can be when your days aren’t jam-packed with back-to-back calls.
The first week back, we open up our calendars and ask some hard questions:
Does this meeting have a clear purpose and outcome?
Could it be shorter? Could it be combined with another meeting?
Would an email or shared document work better?
Even a few strategic cuts can create meaningful breathing room. We’ve seen clients reclaim five to ten hours a month just by streamlining recurring commitments. That’s not just “free time” — that’s space for deep work, client projects, or even an earlier end to your Friday.
Step Three: Run a Tech Check-Up
After some time away, your digital tools deserve a once-over. Start with your website — click through every page, test every link, make sure all your forms and buttons work properly. A broken contact form or outdated link can quietly cost you leads without you even realizing it.
From there, review your automations, workflows, and integrations. Are your email sequences still relevant? Are your invoicing and CRM tools still meeting your needs? Are there steps you’ve been doing manually that could be automated?
We like to treat this as a seasonal habit — it’s easier to fix small glitches now than to scramble in the middle of a busy quarter.
The Payoff
Resetting your workflows after vacation season isn’t about rebuilding your business from scratch. It’s about strategically tightening the bolts so everything runs smoother for the months ahead. The result?
Less wasted time
Stronger systems
More mental clarity for the work that actually matters
By taking a week to assess, clean up, and tune your operations, you can enter your next season of work with confidence — and maybe even keep some of that relaxed vacation energy alive in the process.
If you want a jump-start on step one, check out our Keep, Ditch, Delegate blog — or if you’re curious about your website’s performance, our free Website Audit can help you catch hidden issues before they impact your business.
