Are you feeling the overwhelm of impending deadlines, tying up loose ends at the close of the year, various lockdown restrictions, lack of social contact AND all that Christmas/New Year/holidays prep?
It’s exhausting, isn’t it?
I’ve definitely been feeling it, especially the lack of social contact. I’m an extrovert (albeit it a highly-sensitive one) and need to see my girlfriends, just like I need air, food, water and shelter. I miss the hugs, the laughs, the crazy conversations that don’t get cut off or interrupted by temperamental video software.
I’m sure even the introverts amongst us are, by now, like, “WTF! I love being on my own but this is ridiculous!”
And Christmas surprises me every bloody year, LOL! The shops shut down again on Wednesday due to a stricter lockdown here in Germany, so I vow to GET COMPLETELY ORGANISED next year by finishing my Chrimbo prep by the end of November. No more last-minute rushing and stressing. You read it here first 😉
Despite the overwhelm that a lot of us are feeling, it doesn’t have to be this way.
There are a few things that will dramatically help us release the stress, free up our schedules, find our chill, feel more connected and enjoy the holidays.
Here they are:
1. Take a short break every day and listen to my hypnotic audio GetConfidentGetVisible.
Download it from the box at the end of this blog post or on my Free Audio page.
Save the audio to your phone and make a point of listening to it every day. Make it a habit.
Even if you don’t get round to listening to it until you climb into bed at night, that’s fine too. You’ll drift off into a sound sleep and feel really refreshed when you wake up the next morning.
It’ll calm down your nervous system, help you to stay focused and productive when you need to be and will soothe away any worries and stress.
If there is nothing else I can squeeze into my schedule, I do THIS.
2. Delete, delegate or automate.
Is it really necessary?
If not, dump it.
There’s no such thing as perfection, the world will keep on turning if you don’t do the task and it’s such a relief to cross it off your list of to-dos.
I’ve let go of a lot of nice-to-haves and we’re still going to have a great Christmas because I’ll be connecting with a few close family members.
I have lots of ideas for my business but are they absolutely necessary to grow it and help my clients? Mostly no, so I let them go.
Who can you ask for help?
Let it go and let someone else.
It’s ok to ask for help. We can’t possibly do everything ourselves. We are not meant to do everything ourselves.
It is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength that you acknowledge you need assistance. So just ask.
That person will be more than happy to help (pro tip: ask a busy person – they always make time).
I ask my kids to do a lot more around the house and it’s such a relief when it’s not my responsibility anymore.
I have a wonderful bookkeeping VA who does the stuff that’s way out of my Zone of Genius. Double relief!
How can I automate this?
Especially in business and at work, but also at home.
A little planning goes a loooong way.
Wanting to post content on social media over the holidays? Upload it to Buffer or SocialBee and let the tools take the strain. Then you only have to check comments and engage.
Set up an out-of-office notification with dates on your email and work phone. Then there’s no pressure to get back to them asap. Everyone knows the score.
Order groceries online and save your regular list for next time. There’s nothing more tedious than writing down the same items every bloody week. We’re all creatures of habit so our grocery list will be similar most times.
I use the app and online tool “todoist” for all my to-dos and lists. Dump it there, get it out of your brain and relax.
3. Let go of expectations (your own and other people’s)
What do YOU want to do? Sometimes, we’re so bogged down and blinded by what everyone else wants to do, we lose sight of our wishes and desires.
You don’t have to celebrate Christmas in exactly the same way every single year just because your Dad wants it like that and it’s “always been this way”.
Either get him to muck in and help you create it the way he wants. Or let it go if it doesn’t light you up or you can’t fit it into your schedule.
Do something different.
A few years ago, we decided to go out for dinner on Boxing Day (26th Dec) instead of having a second Christmas dinner, which had been the tradition in my birth family forever.
God, it was so good!
And this year, we’re not having a traditional Christmas pudding because I couldn’t get one in the English shop in the next city and I didn’t want to stress myself making one.
The world will continue to spin and no one will go hungry! And in fact, you might actually enjoy the festivities more because of it.
In your business, there are no rules that say you have to do this, that and the other before 31st December. The 1st of January is literally the next day, so relax and allow projects and ideas to roll over into 2021. It’s all going to be ok.
4. Practice being in the here and now
Mindfulness is THE single, most important way to get off the roundabout of stress and overwhelm.
If you’re feeling out of sorts, stop for a second and look around you. Focus intently on your surroundings:
- Count the windows in the room.
- Listen to the birdsong in the garden.
- Trace the outline of your desk with your eyes.
- “Colour in” your door with your eyes by moving them from left to right and slowly work your way down.
5. Love yourself as if your life depends on it
Because it does.
Be kind to yourself in thoughts, words and deeds. Give yourself a break. Get more sleep. Do what you love and stop putting it off until you’ve done everything else. Dance. Sing. Play the piano. Play with your kids. Read. Draw. Colour in. Knit. Go for walks.
ENJOY LIFE. You only have one.Â
P.s. Want my help to make massive, positive changes in your life and business in 2021? Book a free chat HERE.
