I Got My First Sunburn of the Year. It Reminded Me How Business Owners Should Actually Prepare for (Any) Busy Season.

It happened to me:

The first real stretch of hot weather, a little too much optimism, and suddenly I’m sitting at my desk the next day thinking, I definitely should have planned that better. Ouch!

The thing about your first sunburn of the year is that it’s rarely shocking. You know the sun is stronger. You know you’re going to be outside longer. And still, somehow, you end up unprepared.

As someone who cares about my health and skin, I know all the sun safety rules. But, if you know me in real life, you know I somehow find surprising ways to get sunburnt nonetheless. 

The same pattern plays out every spring with business owners. Your work picks up, your calendar fills up, your Q2 projects are taking off, you find new clients…This is all great news! But instead of adapting to this great news, many leaders just keep moving forward without thinking about how they can be protecting their time and their work better. 

Sunscreen = Planning Ahead

Sunscreen is not complicated. It just requires thinking ahead. You put it on before you need it, not after the damage is done. (And, take my advice, please, pack a small amount in your bag when you’re on the go! I learned the hard way this year that a cloudy forecast can change in an instant.)

In business, this looks like actually preparing for the busy season:

• Looking at your calendar before it fills up

• Identifying what’s going to take the most time

• Deciding what you won’t be able to handle yourself

  
  

It can be difficult to plan ahead when things are up in the air. But preparing as much as possible is a great way to make sure you aren’t caught by surprise when things change. 

Finding Shade = Delegation

Shade is not about avoiding the sun entirely. It’s about not taking the full impact all day, every day.

Delegation works the same way.

You don’t need to remove yourself from your business. But you do need coverage. Someone who can step in, manage the moving pieces, and take pressure off the areas that don’t require your direct attention.

Having someone you trust to take on the smaller things (like inbox management, scheduling, follow-ups, and admin) can make a huge difference in your day-to-day. When things get busy for you, this is where you can really lean on your team. 

Without that support, you’re just standing in direct sun, hoping you won’t feel it later. (You will.)

The Right Gear = Systems That Hold Up

Hats, sunglasses, breathable clothing—none of it is revolutionary. But it makes a compounded difference when you’re out there in the sun for hours.

In business, your “gear” is your systems.

• Do you have clear processes?

• Are your workflows repeatable?

• Can someone else step in and understand how things run?

  
  

If everything lives in your head, you’re relying on memory instead of structure. When you have clear systems and structure in place, things can move smoothly even when you’re distracted or, hopefully, on a well-needed vacation. 

Drinking Water = Protecting Your Capacity

This one is the least exciting and the most important.

You don’t drink water because you’re already dehydrated. You drink it, so it never gets to that point. 

In business, that means protecting your time and energy before you hit burnout.

Because once your capacity is gone, everything slows down. You don’t want to get to the point where you’re just trying to recover; planning ahead and taking care of yourself a little bit at a time means that you can keep up with the things you need to do (and the things you love). 

Take Sun Safety Seriously! 

The first sunburn of the year is a “small” mistake with an obvious fix… plan, prepare, and take this seriously so that it doesn’t happen next time. 

Busy season works the same way. You can keep approaching it the way you always have, and deal with the consequences later… Or you can put the right support, systems, and structure in place now, so when things pick up, you’re ready for it.

That way, there’s no aloe required.