Avoid stretching yourself thin at yearend
It is here again – the holiday season. A time of year where we all attempt to smash too much into six fast-moving weeks. Whether it is hitting revenue targets by December 31st, completing your team’s performance reviews, or planning the perfect holiday feast, we always try to do too much at the end of the year with the goal of relaxing as the calendar flips anew.
I am guilty of it. Even as a super planner who makes gift and shipping lists months in advance and builds my business plan and sales target goals to not revolve around yearend, I still find myself in a frenetic pace as the weeks of the year disappear. And that last week of the year that is supposed to be all relaxation is always far from it.
It does not have to be like this, right?
As we all dream of not feeling stressed and stretched thin, we need to have strategies to help us weather the storm. If we can put these into practice now, they would also be great strategies for all year long.
Be realistic about how much in-person interaction you can handle this year.
None of us have done a string of parties and social gatherings over the course of multiple weeks since 2019. We are not in shape to go out night after night while also waking in the morning for work or to deal with kids bouncing off the walls during winter break. Review each invitation and assess both the joy and exhaustion impacts of attending. Spend your in-person time at those with the highest joy and the lowest exhaustion quotient.
Set boundaries of how you are going to spend your time
Determine what your guardrails are for achieving what you need to accomplish in the last six weeks of the year. What can you realistically accomplish at work knowing that you do not have 100% of business hours available for business. Take into consideration that others are also busy with activities and may not be available to support you in making progress on your goals. Block off the times on your calendar that you do not want or are not able to work and then book your work activities only in open slots.
As someone who benefits from having others hold me accountable, I let my WBO (Women Business Owner) Mastermind group know my plans and asked them for other suggestions. These four amazing women business owners had wonderful suggestions for any of us to not get stretched too thin.
Avoid freaking out about everything that needs to get done. Pick your top three things each day and do those. Prep activities for the holidays might be one of those items and that leaves only two other “top three things” to accomplish for the day. – Hanni Calhoun, Law Office of Hanni Calhoun
Buy an artificial tree. It is less work, no needles to clean up, and more sustainable. -Tracey Warren, Ignite Your Champions
Do not cook the feast meals yourself. Get a caterer. – Michelle Lee, Columbia Bank
Automate holidays cards. Use electric cards or services and have all the work done for you. -Kris Keppeler, KK Aria Productions
The end of year is experienced differently by everyone. Some lean into the joy of the season and some shy away. Some focus on work and others embrace family. There is no right or wrong way to live the last six weeks of the calendar year. The key is to not stretch yourself thin and end up being disappointed in how you experienced that time. Leverage one or two of these strategies and this could be your best and most relaxing new year’s celebration ever.