Five things CEOs can do during Santa Marija week

Santa Marija week has arrived, and for many businesses across Malta, that means something of a collective slowdown.

With the Feast of the Assumption falling on 15th August, the period surrounding the public holiday has traditionally become one of the quieter weeks of the Maltese business calendar. Many companies opt for their annual shutdown, employees take leave, and the usual pace of meetings, emails and deadlines eases considerably.

For CEOs and business leaders who are also stepping away from their usual routines, the quieter period can provide a useful opportunity to recharge, reflect and tackle some of the things that inevitably get pushed aside during busier months.

Here are five ways CEOs can make the most of Santa Marija week.

1. Switch off properly

For business leaders, being officially on leave does not always mean being away from work. Emails are still checked, messages answered and problems dealt with from the beach.

Santa Marija week presents a good opportunity to resist that habit. With many clients, suppliers and employees themselves on leave, there may be fewer reasons than usual to remain constantly connected – so you and your inbox can take a breather.

2. Take stock of the year so far

August sits comfortably beyond the halfway point of the year, making the Santa Marija slowdown a natural moment to consider how 2026 has unfolded so far.

Rather than conducting a formal business review, CEOs can use the quieter days to think about the bigger picture. Which objectives are on track? What has changed since January? Are there projects or priorities that no longer make sense?

A few hours of uninterrupted reflection can sometimes be more valuable than another meeting. Bonus points if this is done on a nice sandy beach.

3. Read something that has nothing to do with work

CEOs are rarely short of reports, presentations, emails and industry updates to read. A week away from the normal routine offers an opportunity to pick up something completely unrelated.

Whether it is fiction, history, a biography or simply a subject of personal interest, reading outside one's professional bubble can offer a change of perspective and provide the mental distance that is often difficult to achieve during a normal working week.

And there is no requirement for every book read by a CEO to contain a lesson about leadership.

4. Spend time with employees outside the office

A demanding leadership role can easily consume evenings, weekends and mental space long after the working day ends.

If the business is operating at a slower pace, Santa Marija week can instead be used to spend time with family and friends, visit somewhere around the Maltese islands or simply enjoy a few days without a tightly packed diary.

Maintaining those relationships and interests outside work at a restaurant or a nice pub is a fun way to reconnect and getting to know your employees on a different level.

5. Relax at a festa

Few weeks offer a better opportunity to experience one of Malta's most recognisable summer traditions.

The Feast is celebrated in seven localities across the Maltese islands: Mqabba, Qrendi, Mosta, Attard, Gudja, Għaxaq and Victoria in Gozo.

Each locality marks the occasion in its own way, with streets decorated for the feast, liturgical celebrations, processions, activities, fireworks and, naturally, plenty of food.

So head to a festa, grab something to eat and enjoy the summer evening.