How can your holiday season be more productive while allowing time to rest, relax and enjoy the festivities? This will be the first of several messages on making the most of the season.
Plan It: A productive holiday season can’t happen unless you plan it. Does that sound like work? Work is when you don’t plan it and are overrun by the events of the season.
Here are the steps:
1. Study it. Open your calendar and study the month of December. What is already on there? What needs to be on there?
- Client or business events
- Business planning and strategy development
- Family travels, vacation days and school plays
- Holiday parties and festivities
- Gift purchases
- Holiday decorating
- Time for me
- White space
2. Consider it. Evaluate the requests on your time and energy.
- Is it a priority or a “should”?
- Is prep time needed?
- Is follow-up or recovery time needed?
3. Schedule it.
- If it passes the priority test
- With prep time included
- With follow-up or recovery time needed
The holidays are time for good cheer, wonderful memories, sharing with friends and family and a time for gratitude. Our ambition and excitement for the season can cause an overuse of our resources early on. Planning creates awareness of what is needed to have a relaxing and joyful season.
Share your tips for managing the busyness of the season below or e-mail me at barbara@acceluspartners.com.