The year that never slowed down
2023 never slowed down. My first year at Holidaymaker was a blur of brand projects, startup life and motherhood. Reading gave me a way to pause, and as the rebrand goes live in January, I’m hoping 2024 brings a steadier pace.
December feels like it arrived before the year even started.
2023 has been my first full year at Holidaymaker, spent mostly finding my feet in a new industry. In some ways it felt familiar. I grew up a farmer’s daughter, and working with family park owners has the same mix of graft, resilience and community. You get stuck in, adapt to whatever’s thrown at you, and accept that no two days ever run the same.
By autumn I was knee-deep in our first rebrand project. It goes live in January, and I still can’t quite believe it. Rebrands are messy, complicated things, and this one has been all of that. But it’s also been energising. I’ve realised I enjoy the technical puzzles as much as the brand, strategy and content. Give me a tricky CMS or a structure problem and I’ll happily disappear into it.
Outside work it has been harder. Balancing life, motherhood, a growing startup and a growing brand hasn’t left much breathing space. Even with a supportive workplace, I’ve struggled to slow down. Switching off is not something I’ve mastered yet.
Reading helped me hold the edges of the year together.
Seems my 2023 list kept pulling me back to the idea that constant motion isn’t the same as progress. Plus to never look back for too long, or else risk disaster.
Looking ahead to January and the rebrand launch, I’d like 2024 to bring a steadier pace. Or at the very least, a few more pauses.
