When the holidays roll around, many professionals find themselves in work limbo, unsure of when they can really unplug from the job. For CEOs, the last stretch of 2025 is no different: Many find it hard to step away from work, especially as businesses boom during the festive season. But chief executives are taking back their holiday downtime with small wins in their work-life arrangements.
Despite the holiday season clearing out offices, sending thousands on vacation, and shutting down stores early, CEOs tell Fortune their work lives are still intense. Most say they can never truly unplug from the job, always on call if business beckons them back to their laptops. But leaders are still finding little ways to catch a breather from being CEO. Cooking helps one chief executive connect with his family, while another swears by the holiday season as a “completely sacred” time to unplug and pick up a book.
CEOs tell Fortune totally unwinding during the holiday season is easier said than done, but they’re making it work by setting these boundaries:
One week of adventures and no set meetings
“To some extent, as a founder & CEO of a large and fast-growing company, especially one responsible for patient health and outcomes, I’m on 24/7, and I can be reached anytime without boundaries,” said Sami Inkinen, the CEO and cofounder of Virta Health Group. “My unplugging is more daily in that I allocate time for sports (especially cycling, my hobby), my family, and my spouse.”
“I do try to have a week or so without organized work meetings,” Inkinen continued. “Sometimes this week includes backcountry adventures where I can not be reached, [for example], trail running in the Himalayas in Nepal.”
Cooking for his family
“I’m in the restaurant industry—there is no unplugging—but on a serious note, unplugging for me is cooking. I’m always cooking, especially with my kids. I have five, I’m always plugged in,” said Derrick Hayes, the CEO and founder of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks.
Two hours of no phone time
“I really try my hardest to put my phone down for at least two hours a day. For me, that really helps me literally unplug, recharge and spend dedicated and quality time with my family,” said Seth Berkowitz, the CEO and founder of Insomnia Cookies.
Active ‘Keep the Lights On’ mode
“We’re a small team and everyone wears a lot of hats, so I try to make the holidays feel as restful as possible. We do something we call KTLO—’Keep the Lights On.’ Basically, we cancel all internal meetings and limit external ones so people can actually step away,” said Ryan Lupberger, the CEO and founder of Clean Cult.
“The only expectation is to stay on top of email and Slack so nothing urgent slips through,” Lupberger said. “It gives everyone room to breathe and be with family, while still keeping the business running at a level that works for a lean team. It’s been a really nice balance for us.”
Drowning the noise with skiing and Legos
“I unplug by creating moments that feel protected from the noise of the world,” said Ricardo Amper, the CEO and founder of Incode. “My mornings start with quiet and coffee before my phone wakes up. That hour resets me. When I go skiing, I disconnect completely because the mountain demands my full attention. And at home, my daughter pulls me into her world.”
“It is impossible to think about deepfakes while we build a Lego tower together. Those simple moments keep me grounded,” Amper added.
Truly unplugging with books
“For me, the holiday season is completely sacred—I take this time off and truly unplug. In the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I step away completely and steep myself in reading, walking the dogs and connecting with people outside of work,” said Sarah Chavarria, the CEO and president of Delta Dental. “Boundaries matter—and honoring them is essential to how I stay balanced.”
Annual Costa Rica trip
“I always go back to my motherland, Costa Rica, for the holidays to spend time with family and friends,” said Alvaro Luque, the CEO and president of Avocados from Mexico.
“While I cherish every moment, to be honest, I don’t unplug that much,” Luque admitted. “I check my messages and email every day. I’m always close to the operation—especially this time of year, when guac consumption is up in the U.S., College Football Playoffs are in full swing and Super Bowl hype ramps up. I enjoy working, so it’s a good balance for me to do it from a country I love so much.”
Select hours online
“I don’t really believe in completely unplugging,” said Cesar Carvalho, the CEO and cofounder of Wellhub. “What works better for me is integration. I coordinate schedules with my team and family ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect, and I keep a couple of hours each day when I’m available if something urgent comes up.”
“I find this approach more realistic and less stressful than trying to be ‘all in’ on one thing or another,” Carvalho continued. “The same way I don’t want to only work during work days, I don’t want to totally disconnect during time off. It’s more about finding harmony between work and life.”
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