Small Business, Big Lessons® — Time for a Snickers!

Once again, another year is flying by and we are into the holidays. As a small business owner or working in a business, this time of the year can be difficult. It gets dark earlier, depending on your weather preference, it may be getting too cold, and traffic is a mess. . Customers’ expectations have increased (many times beyond reasonable), and everyone is in a rush for something – even if they’re not sure for what.

Time to consider an extended Snickers break! I’m not advocating filling up with candy but be sure to take small breaks for yourself and plan something for the New Year. It will get rid of the potential for having a “hangry” reaction you’ll later regret due to elevated levels of stress.

Let’s talk about a few actions you can take to reduce stress and enjoy the holidays:

Take care of yourself and those around you:

1)    Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – And It’s All Small Stuff is a book and now series of books by author Richard Carlson. . many great concepts including taking charge of your day vs reacting to others. Everything is not an emergency. Set your direction for the day, week, etc. and take control. Also give others a break. If they make a mistake, let it go. You’ll find your stress level will drop significantly.

2)    Take a walk & enjoy a snack – There never seems to be enough hours in the day. One of the first things to go are a healthy diet and exercise. Everything needs balance so take care of your health. Too many times a business owner lets the stress of the business take its toll on them and they end up losing everything. Don’t make it something to avoid –take the stairs vs an elevator, pack a healthy snack vs chips. A few things I’ve started to adopt walking meeting, especially if I am not an active participant. I lead a team that all agreed to once a month have our team meeting either over coffee or walking to change the routine. The other is having small healthy snacks throughout the day vs large meals. Keeps my blood flowing, and yes, an “occasional” Snickers!

3)    Travel and Family Time – Go someplace new. Allow your mind to experience different places, cultures, food, and fun! Relax and don’t stay plugged in to constant messages and social media. Disconnect!  Reconnect with your family and friends. Set the time now. The act of having something to look forward to gives you those mental breaks to look forward to something other than work. I used to think I didn’t need those and found it can lead to early burnout. Taking time to unplug will really help recharge and reduce burnout and frustration over the “little things”. When your back, start planning the next adventure!

Think through

Are you feeling overwhelmed and burnt-out? What are you doing to take control of your day, week, month, and life to change that feeling? Take those small “Snickers breaks” along the way and plan fun things in the future. Always have something, no matter how far out on the calendar to look forward to.

What are you doing to take a break? Feel free to post comments or email them to me. Small Business, Big Lessons™ – Time for a Snickers!