Why I'll keep posting over the holidays

& why you should do the same.

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Why I’ll keep posting over the holidays

Most creators will go quiet this time of year. Inboxes clear out, feeds slow down, and you can almost hear the collective sigh of people logging off.

But this year, I’m not joining them. I’ll be posting through the break (though some of it will obviously be scheduled in advance).

This isn’t about hustle culture or proving something. It’s about recognising that December and early January create a unique window for anyone running a newsletter or building an audience.

Quieter inboxes = more attention

When everyone else stops sending, subscriber attention goes up. Fewer emails mean more space for yours to stand out. Late December is one of the few times open rates can rise without you changing a thing.

Think about your inbox right now. Most brands have already sent their last campaign. Most newsletters have wrapped up before Christmas. The usual flood of content has slowed down. That means when you do send something, people actually see it.

Research backs this up too. Email marketers consistently see higher engagement during holiday weeks, particularly between Christmas and New Year. People check their inboxes more casually. They’re not racing through work emails or sorting urgent requests.

People still need things to read

People like to pretend that they switch off during the holidays. Spoiler: They don’t! The holidays are when they finally catch up on stuff. If your posts drop into their inbox then, you’re part of that slower, more thoughtful space.

Everyone talks about the holidays like they’re a blackout period. But readers don’t disappear. In fact, they have time to read things they saved for later. They’re scrolling on the couch instead of during a commute. They’re looking for something interesting that doesn’t necessarily demand too much from them.

You’re not interrupting their workflow. You’re filling the gaps between family arguments, one too many Christmas leftover meals and Netflix binges. That’s a much better context for your content than competing with the standard weekly chaos.

Algorithms don’t take holidays!

Yeah, I hate that this is true as well. Honest!

On every channel you use, the systems reward consistent activity. Keep posting, and you’re feeding those signals while others go quiet. It’s one of the simplest organic boosts you can get. So that goes for Notes as much as it does actual posts, too.

Platform algorithms care about one thing above all else: recent activity. Whether it’s Substack recommendations, LinkedIn’s feed sorting, or search engines indexing fresh content, staying active keeps you visible. When competitors stop posting, you’re still appearing in feeds and recommendation engines.

Should you do the same?

If you run a newsletter or create content regularly, consider staying active these next few weeks. You don’t need to maintain your full schedule. Cut back if you want. Post once instead of twice. Share something quick instead of your usual deep dive.

Staying present > staying perfect.

And holiday content doesn’t need to be profound. Share what you’re reading, watching, or thinking about. Reflect on the year without turning it into a big listicle (I’m throwing my laptop out the window if I receive one more of these). Ask your audience a question and actually read the replies. Round up your best posts from the past year for people who missed them.

You could write about what you’re planning for January without the standard goal-setting pressure. Talk about creative experiments you want to try. Share a process post about how you work. The holidays give you space to be more casual, personal and experimental. Use that freedom!

What will you be doing?

So that’s my plan for the next couple weeks. What about you? Are you going quiet until January, or staying active through the break?

Drop a comment and let me know what you’re posting.