Social Media Strategy, Training & Management for Small Business
Does it ever feel like you’re juggling way too many things in your daily routine: Your business? Your family? Your personal goals?
Most of us tend to over-commit and then over-schedule ourselves. We feel confident we can just barely make those deadlines. Then, along comes some unexpected event that either good or bad, adds more stress (and responsibilities) and throws the whole grand plan into chaos.
Continue reading “5 Tips for Work-Life Balance During Stressful Situations”
Staying productive and keeping your home office running smoothly can be a challenge during the holiday season. It may be your favorite time of year, but balancing home and career requires a dedicated focus when most of us have a busier schedule and more family commitments.
Out of town guests or family may be staying with you and may even sleep in the room dedicated for your home office. Additional activities on the calendar can also result in you spending less time in your home office than you’d like.
But planning ahead and staying organized can keep that balance between your home office and your family commitments a happy one. And learning how to manage the stress in your life will help you be more productive any time of the year.
Managing stress really means that you are managing your reaction to events or situations. You have no control over the unexpected, so use strategies like the ones below to help create a more positive reaction to the increased demands on your time during the holidays.
Put every upcoming holiday event on your calendar now. Get your spouse or family on-board when prioritizing holiday events. If you have kids, then expect the unexpected during the holiday season. Last minute gifts, treats for the school party, costume emergencies for the holiday play…know that things will come up, schedules will get interrupted or your well-planned day may take a detour. But if you focus on your long-term business goals and getting the most important things done, you can address these family emergencies, stay productive and keep your sense of humor.
When you feel stress building up, have a method ready to deal with it. Whether it’s meditation, blasting music and dancing around the house, reading a self-help book or taking a jog around the block…have something in place to turn to when you feel the physical symptoms of stress.
Focusing on how overwhelmed you feel is not going to help you accomplish what needs to be done. So instead, think about what you have accomplished already, the success you’ve had in other areas of your life and give yourself a “pat on the back”. Give yourself the same positive advice that you’d offer a friend or family member who feels overwhelmed. Be your own cheerleader.
No matter how stressed you are feeling, there is always someone out there with bigger problems than you. The holiday season gives us even more chances to help others. Either through your church, local community or online community – step outside of your own circumstances and do something good for someone else. You’ll make a difference in someone’s life and get a better perspective on your own life (maybe your situation won’t seem so “stressful” now compared to the world around you).
The holiday season can mean fast food dinners on the run or ordering more take-out, neither of which is healthy or cheap. Plan quick, healthy dinners now for the upcoming busy season: freeze dinners or keep “emergency meal” items on hand in the pantry so you can prepare a dinner with just a few ingredients when time is crunched. Don’t stop your normal exercise routine. If you don’t exercise already, make time for it. Just 30 minutes a day can make a big difference and keep you feeling better when things get stressful.
Prepare a few strategies now that will help when the stress of the holiday season inevitably occurs. That way, you can enjoy the time with family and friends, knowing you are maintaining a good balance between your career and home.