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Small Business Articles from Make-it-Fly®
 Too
Much on Your Plate?
Ten Tips to Help You
Cope
By Victoria Munro
Printable version
During the holidays, it’s
easy to overindulge—there are lots of opportunities
to load up our plates with scrumptious holiday fare.
For an entrepreneur with a business to run, balancing
the additional demands of family and holiday events
can prove overwhelming. In
both instances, the results of too much on your plate
can be harmful.
Wearing the many hats of a small-business owner is
tough at the best of times. When your business starts
to really take off, perhaps before the needed cash is
flowing to hire the right help, it can be even more
challenging. Add to that some holiday stress, and the
pressures skyrocket. You can find yourself caught in
a relentless cycle—finishing each day with a longer
“to-do” list than when you started in the
morning.
Use the following tips to help keep
your health and sanity, stay energized and focused,
and enjoy this holiday season.
| 1. |
Focus
on the Big Picture
Develop a daily habit of taking time, even a few
minutes, to reflect on your ultimate goal for your
life and your business. Plan your day with this
in mind. |
| 2. |
Take
Control of Your Day with a To-Do List
Create meaningful daily to-do lists based on your
weekly plan. At the end of each day, review your
accomplishments, congratulate yourself on achievements
and discover what you can learn from tasks that
were scheduled but not accomplished. |
| 3. |
Live
by Priorities
Be crystal clear about the tasks you want to accomplish
each day. Ruthlessly prioritize these and then complete
them in order, resisting any temptation to skip
over or postpone the tough ones. |
| 4. |
Set
Realistic Expectations
Don’t pack too many projects into a day. Allow
flextime for those unexpected phone calls and employee
or family interruptions. |
| 5. |
Look
at the Positive
Always aim to see the glass as half full. Turn your
attention to things that have gone well. |
| 6. |
Choose
How You’ll Respond
Stress is a normal part of life. We can’t
avoid it and we can’t always choose our circumstances,
but we can choose how we respond to events. Decide
beforehand to stay serene. |
| 7. |
Don’t
Over Commit
Like the tendency to load up your plate with too
many holiday goodies, over commitment can make you
sick. Determine not to take on more projects than
you can comfortably handle. |
| 8. |
Talk
Over Difficult Issues
Discuss your challenges with a trusted friend or
board of advisors. This can alleviate stress and
clarify your perspective. |
| 9. |
Take
Care of Your Body
You will be far more effective after a good night’s
sleep. Also, physical exercise relieves tension.
|
| 10. |
Take
Time to Recharge
Taking a break will make you more resistant to stress.
Even five-minute breaks to relax, breathe deeply
and think about something fun and pleasant can help.
Plan time for fun too—laughter is good medicine.
Taking time this holiday season to relax and play
shouldn’t be considered a luxury. |
(502 words)
© 2005-2007 Victoria Munro.
Click here
for printable version.
About the Author: Victoria Munro is
co-founder (along with husband Dave Block) of Make-it-Fly®
LLC, a company dedicated to creating success for
small-business owners through creatively designed programs
and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different
businesses. To receive FREE business success articles
with tips to help you with your business, sign up for
their award-winning ezine, “In-Flight Refueling,”
at: www.Make-it-Fly.com,
and receive a free copy of the eBook, Get
More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics
& Tips.
You’re welcome to “reprint”
this article in your ezine, print publication
or on your website, as long as it remains complete and
unaltered (including the “about the author”
info at the end). Please send a copy of your reprint
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