We are just a couple of short weeks from Thanksgiving here in the States. And soon after comes the major holiday rush. For those of us busy business owners who also run a home, that means more time spent networking, shopping, wrapping, traveling or entertaining travelers, cooking, and don’t even mention the kids home for winter break! How do you even remotely think about being productive this time of year?
What can we do to manage all of the extra stress AND stay productive while continuing to work on or in our business? Here are a few quick tips to start considering now, before we get into the full holiday swing.
7 Holiday Time Saving Tips for Better Work-Life Balance
Tip #1 – Plan early. What will your holiday expectations look like this year? When you know what you will and won’t commit to, you can better plan way ahead.
Tip #2 – Shop early. Don’t wait till after Thanksgiving to start your shopping. Ideally, make a list and start shopping in the summer. Always be on the look out for that unique, wonderful gift idea, buy it, wrap it and put it away with a removable note as to what it is (or take a picture before wrapping) and who it’s for. While it might be well past summer, you can start now.
Tip #3 – Growth or Reflection? Is the holiday season a busy time of year for your business? Then it is a period of growth. Plan to let go of other things so you can focus on that growth. Does business slow down in the last quarter? Then it is a time for reflection and planning. How will you grow your business in the new year? What can you do to set up your marketing and other growth ideas now?
Tip #4 – Don’t try to keep up with the Griswalds. Whether it is the amount of money you spend on gifts or how well your home is decorated for the holidays, this is definitely not the time to compare what you are doing to what those around you are doing. Decide on your own level of festivities and be OK with that.
Tip #5 – Don’t over commit. We tend to want to be able to do it all. Decide in advance how much is too much and be OK saying no to things that don’t fully serve you and your goals.
Tip #6 – Let go! This time of year is not the best to plan things that can be done other times of the year. For example, don’t plan your routine doctors and dentist appointments during November and December. Decide the car doesn’t need to get washed. And your dry cleaning might be able to wait until January. What things are required and what things can wait in your personal and business life? Choose carefully.
Tip #7 – Take time for you. It seems like the LAST thing you will have time to do with all of that chaos is take time out for yourself. However, if you don’t, your body will for you. There’s a reason many of us experience more colds and flus this time of year and it isn’t because of a wide spread virus. It DOES have something to do with more stress, less exercise and crappy eating that all affect our immune system.
Ultimately, work-life balance is a myth. See why I think so here. However, finding that harmony can allow us to keep our sanity with all the extra demands on our already busy schedules.