Written by: Alice Dartnell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
‘Tis the season to embrace the festive cheer! Finding the perfect gifts, enjoying those comforting pumpkin spice lattes and embellishing every nook and cranny with candy canes and twinkling lights.
While this time of year is one for celebration and fun, it can also bring forth a whirlwind of stress, pressure and festive burnout, especially for entrepreneurs juggling business responsibilities and personal commitments.
But not this year! As a coach specialising in time and energy management, in this article, we'll explore five-time and energy management tips tailored to help entrepreneurs navigate the holiday season with better energy management and less stress!
Tip 1: Prioritize your holiday needs
Entrepreneurs are known for giving their all to their ventures, but it's crucial to remember that you are allowed time to enjoy yourself, take time away from your business and practice some self-care during the holiday season!
Start by asking yourself, "What do I need and want this holiday season?"
There is no right or wrong answer by the way, it is just important to recognize your individual desires so you don’t succumb to the people pleasing because trying to do it all will lead to a festive burnout!
Tip 2: Plan strategically
The holiday season may be an annual occurrence, but its arrival can still catch us off guard. Combat this surprise by taking the time to plan it out – this will help balance your personal needs and entrepreneurial responsibilities.
Block out dedicated time for each task, from travelling to see the in-laws, to wrapping all the gifts, to enjoying downtime for yourself, and to the essential daily tasks of your business to keep it running smoothly.
A plan and structure will help you approach the holiday hustle stress-free!
Create a plan that includes all aspects of the festive season, from travel and packing to cleaning the house and decorating.
Tip 3: Get it out of your head and stay organized with a list
Entrepreneurs often have a million things on their minds, making it easy to forget essential details or feel overwhelmed with everything there is to do (hello festive stress!) or the notorious 3am wake-up calls form our brains whirling with ideas and things we have to do!
Sounds so simple but it is so effective, just write everything down. Yes, I mean EVERYTHING! The reason you wake up in the middle of the night is because your brain is trying to do you a favor and constantly remind you of everything you have going on – that is the brain’s “job”!
Combat this by creating a centralized list for all your festive season ideas and tasks. This could include gift ideas, dietary preferences, and personal wish lists. Having a consolidated list will not only keep you organized but also make it easier to access crucial information, especially when inspiration strikes unexpectedly.
Tip 4: Relieve yourself of unnecessary pressure
Entrepreneurs are known for their ability to accomplish great feats, but it's essential to set realistic expectations during the festive season. It is unlikely that you are going to achieve 5-day working weeks in December and January, so you need to adjust your work schedule and goals! Be realistic, drop the pressure and set clear intentions for what you want and what can be achieved in your business and goals.
Tip 5: Quantify your available time (and energy)
Rather than adding to your to-do list, take a subtractive approach by quantifying the time actually available to you. Block out the time in your diary to get an accurate reflection of what you can fit in over the holiday season! For example, consider your holiday leave, travel time, gift wrapping, decorating, food preparation, etc.
This approach helps you gain a realistic understanding of the time you have and enables you to prioritize tasks effectively. Also, think about your energy within that too! We often cram as much as we can into our festive calendars but consider your energy too – you might have the time but not the energy!
As the holiday season approaches, let these five tailored time and energy management tips be your guiding lights to a more balanced and joyful celebration. By prioritizing your holiday needs, strategically planning, staying organized, relieving yourself of unnecessary pressure, and quantifying your available time and energy, you will navigate the festive hustle with joy. Cheers to a stress-free and merry celebration!
Alice Dartnell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Alice Dartnell is a time management and energy management coach, trainer, speaker, and author, who is passionate about empowering people to create a life by design, not by default! Known as an expert in time management and energy management, Alice doesn’t teach time management in the traditional sense. Instead, she focuses on importance of energy management and mindset as the way to improve time management. Alice believes that time management actually isn’t about managing time! Instead, it is about managing you, other people, your tasks and most importantly, your energy! She works with individuals on a 121 basis, as well as through programmes, workshops, and courses. Additionally, she delivers training to org
