Originally published in 2012 and substantially updated in September 2026. The 26 original comments remain below because they capture a question bloggers still wrestle with: how do you take time off without feeling as though your business will disappear?
The holidays can create a strange pressure for bloggers and creators. You may want time with family, travel, traditions or simply a break, while your website, email list, social channels, customers and brand commitments do not magically disappear.
The good news is that you do not have to choose between working at full speed and abandoning your business. Decide what actually needs to continue, what can be prepared ahead and what can wait.
First, Decide What Must Keep Running
Not every blogging task has the same consequence if you stop for a week.
Before creating extra holiday work for yourself, identify genuine obligations: sponsored-content deadlines, customer orders, paid campaigns, time-sensitive affiliate promotions, scheduled launches, important email commitments or technical tasks that cannot wait.
Then separate those from optional activity. Your audience probably does not need a brand-new article simply because Tuesday arrived.
Option 1: Take a Real Break
You are allowed to stop publishing for a while.
An established evergreen website does not suddenly lose all of its value because its owner takes Christmas week off. Search traffic can continue reaching existing articles, automated emails can continue when appropriate, products can remain available and previously published content can keep working.
If you want a complete break, prepare only what genuinely needs attention and give yourself permission to be unavailable for the rest.
Option 2: Reduce Your Schedule
You may prefer to keep a light presence without maintaining your normal workload.
That could mean one useful newsletter instead of several social posts, one article instead of three, fewer live interactions or temporarily pausing projects that require substantial concentration.
A reduced schedule is particularly useful when your business has seasonal opportunities you do not want to ignore but you still want meaningful time away.
Option 3: Schedule Important Content Ahead
Scheduling can protect time off, but do not create two exhausting weeks of extra work simply to manufacture the appearance that you never took a break.
Prepare the pieces that have a reason to publish: a seasonal guide, sale reminder, useful evergreen article, newsletter or previously planned campaign.
You can also refresh and reshare strong existing content instead of writing everything from scratch.
Option 4: Let Evergreen Content Do Its Job
A healthy content business should have assets that work when you are not actively publishing.
Before the holidays, review seasonal and evergreen pages that already receive traffic. Make sure important links work, offers are current and readers have a useful next step.
An updated article that already ranks or circulates on Pinterest may be more valuable than rushing out a new post you do not have time to promote.
Option 5: Communicate When It Helps
You do not need to apologize for taking time off. But if readers, customers, clients or brand partners reasonably expect a response, communicate the schedule.
Set an email autoresponder when appropriate. Clearly state order deadlines or shipping/pickup changes. Tell a brand contact in advance if you will be unavailable during part of a campaign.
Good communication prevents a break from becoming a pile of problems waiting for you afterward.
What About Social Media?
You can schedule selected posts, reshare useful older content or simply post less.
Do not assume every platform requires constant activity through every holiday. If you enjoy sharing personal or seasonal moments, do that because it fits your community-not because you are afraid an algorithm will punish you for spending time away.
What About Revenue?
If the holidays are an important earning period for your niche, plan the revenue-producing work first.
For example, update gift guides before shoppers need them, check affiliate links, prepare sales emails, schedule sponsored deliverables and make sure products are actually purchasable.
Then distinguish that work from busywork. Holiday revenue does not require being online every waking hour.
Plan the Return, Too
A break is easier when you know what happens afterward. Before signing off, leave yourself a short note with the first two or three priorities for your return.
Do not schedule an enormous launch for your first morning back unless there is a compelling reason. Give yourself enough space to catch up on messages and see what actually changed while you were away.
The Best Holiday Blogging Plan Is the One That Fits Your Life
The original commenters below chose everything from continuing normally to scheduling ahead to taking Christmas and New Year's off. One reader was preparing content far in advance because she was also expecting a baby in January. That discussion is a good reminder that there has never been one correct holiday blogging schedule.
Your business needs matter. Your readers matter. Your life matters too.
Build enough systems and evergreen assets that taking a break does not feel like an emergency. That is part of building a blog that supports your life instead of consuming it.
For a broader site reset after the holidays, see 5 Blogging Tasks to Do Before the New Year.
Jennifer says
I am really struggling on what I should do with my blog for the holidays. Last year I did a huge giveaway (high value piece of jewelry) which started the day after Christmas and lasted through New Years. It helped with traffic, but I'm not sure that I want to do that again... I've pre-scheduled a few posts, but I'm always wondering - is it enough? Maybe I'll just do a few extra picture posts so there isn't a ton of writing to be done...I just don't know. And it doesn't help that my mom has a bad internet connection at her house (that's where we're spending the holiday). I guess I better figure it out since it's next week!
Kathleen Garber says
For me, less readers during the holidays is normal but it's in January that my numbers really go down. Perhaps do a big giveaway starting Jan 1 instead? To bring readers in January. For the holidays you could just preschedule a post or two so you don't have to worry about the poor internet connection.
Ellen Christian says
Great ideas! Haven't decided which I'm going to do yet.
Kathleen Garber says
You might want to decide soon! The holidays always seem to creep up fast!
Jaime Nicole says
I will probably slow down a little bit over this weekend as I finish up final prep! I have some airplane time to work on posts as well.
Kathleen Garber says
Travel time is perfect for writing posts. I don't travel much but have found the train a good time to write.
still blonde says
Excellent topic. One that many of us struggle over. KUDOS!!
Kathleen Garber says
Thank you. I was trying to decide what topic about blogging and the holidays isn't covered as much.
maria @close to home says
thx I am out of town and no internet so this is going to be challenging.
Kathleen Garber says
No internet does pose some problems. Ideally you would have planned for your blog before going out out of town. Really though, even if you are absent for a few days to a few weeks, while you will lose readers, you can work to get them back.
mel says
I am actually going to take some time off and enjoy the holidays!
Kathleen Garber says
Sounds good, Happy Holidays then!
lena says
I somehow still have a busy schedule - pre-scheduling now
Kathleen Garber says
I need to find time to schedule a few things if I can.
Tracey Black says
I will keep posting but take a break for Christmas and New Year's. Next year, I plan to line up more guest posts.
Kathleen Garber says
I say that I will do more with guests posts every year and I haven't done well with that. Hopefully you have better luck.
bre dale says
prescheduling seems to be the best idea to me
Kathleen Garber says
This would be my ideal way to handle it but prescheduling posts for 5 blogs just isn't possible for me!
Felissa says
I know that no matter what traffic will start to slow down by the end of the week but I will continue to post as normal or as close to normal as I have been. I have cut way down on daily posts from between 3 - 5 per day to 1 per day and just promote each post more. I think I might do a recap after the holidays though so that people who were to busy to visit don't miss any of the great content I put up.
Kathleen Garber says
That is a good idea. I used to do week in review on one of my blogs but it's a lot of work. Perhaps just during busy times though.
kristinnw says
Great question. I have NO idea. I will probably NOT post on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but other than that, it'll be business as usual. Not full force blogging, but blogging, maybe once or twice a day.
Kathleen Garber says
If I post on Christmas Eve or Day, it would be just well wishes for the holiday season. I think my plan may end up being similar to yours.
Sandy a la Mode says
i am going to schedule posts and cut back by a day or two!
xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
Emily says
I seem to blog so sporadically based on what is going on in my life, that I will probably just continue on that way or prepost some...
Kathleen Garber says
It is recommended that you blog on a regular schedule, even if it's only once a month so readers know when to expect new content. That said, it's easier said than done. I'm sure keeping to your "regular" non-regularity will work for you.
@mamanycnet says
Great ideas 🙂 I've been scheduling posts ahead of time, but since I am having a baby mid-January, I've had to go even further nto the future. It's not easy, but I've scheduled posts sporadically from December 25-January 22nd in hopes that I'll have lots of posts when its baby time. As if this time of the year isn't difficult enough, I have to plan ANOTHER month ahead of time. Im doing well with scheduling for the baby, but still struggle (naturally) to keep up with what has to be done NOW. I know that I will go crazy knowing there's NOTHING being published, so its best that I get ready now! 🙂