As a small business owner, time is your most valuable resource.You juggle so many responsibilities on a daily basis, which means every second truly counts. With the holidays in full swing, there is an even greater demand on your time. To successfully navigate this holiday with your small business and sanity intact, try these simple tips.
Go Walking Regularly
If your local weather allows, go outside once in a while. Get some fresh air into your lungs and enjoy the many health benefits of a walk, such as lowered blood pressure. It also serves as a way to manage your stress. It could even improve your creativity, so if you have a choice between the pavement and the couch, go for the former.
Spend Some Time Alone
The holidays are touted as an opportunity to spend time with your friends and family. That’s important – however, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the opportunity to get some alone time. Spend some time each day with yourself and no one else. You’ll spend most of your time at the office bombarded by people and their needs. Take some alone time whenever you can.
Show Gratitude
The holidays are a great time for small business owners to go around and show people their gratitude. While that is something that you can do all the time, Christmas is the right season for it. Something about the holidays makes it special for many people, so take the time to hug people you care about. Reconnect with a mentor or teacher. Send out emails to clients and various other people thanking them.
Don’t Make It About You
Most small business owners are internally focused. When something goes wrong in the company, they’re responsible. Somewhere down the line, they made the decision that allowed something to go south. However, that’s not the case when dealing with friends and family. Sometimes, they’ll make you angry and it’s up to you to remember that it’s not always your fault. For once, be easy on yourself. Remember that it’s not always about you, that sometimes it’s about the other person’s problems.
Spend Some Time Reflecting
While the holidays are hectic, they do represent a time when you’re not at the office. When you’re away from the hustle and bustle, you’re left alone with your thoughts. This is a good thing. All this alone time is an opportunity to think about how the year has gone. You can spend this time of reflection remembering why you’re on this journey, and thinking about who has disappointed you and who has supported you. This will give you the energy and the drive to push forward once Christmas is done.
Christmas is a time for giving, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t give to yourself. Self-care is important, yet many entrepreneurs and small business owners opt to simply tank the stresses and pressure of running their own company. Don’t do that to yourself. Take care of your mind and you’ll do better at your business. Ignore your mental and emotional health, and burnout is the only thing that awaits you.