As the holiday season approaches, our stress levels tend to increase. We frantically run around to get last-minute work done, and to wrap up before the break. Not to mention planning our holiday travels, Christmas lunch or dinner, or other festive season parties!
Here are 3 quick tips to help you eliminate stress.
1 – Plan ahead
There are certain times in life where you can “just wing it”, and there are other times where it pays to be prepared.
Consider this: You’re headed into a sales pitch, you’ve done this several times before. Sure, you may be able to follow your gut and wing it. But this is a client in a new industry you’re hoping to land. Your stomach is already in knots and your brain is trying to tell you 100 things that could go wrong. Planning ahead and being prepared will help you to answer any unexpected questions with confidence.
Another scenario: With the Christmas rush coming up, we always tell ourselves that we’ll start our Christmas shopping in November. Well, have a look at the calendar, darling! We’re already in December! The last thing we want to do is to go Christmas shopping on the 24th..
And I’m not saying you should go and do all your Christmas shopping this weekend. Plan it out in phases – perhaps on your way home after work you pass a hardware store, and there’s that 1 specific item you had in mind for hubby or dad. Or while you’re busy with your grocery shopping, get the Christmas crackers and chocolate box gifts.
Plan ahead quote
YOUR PLAN OF ACTION: Make a list of the things that you need to get done before the holidays. Split these up into smaller tasks. Get cracking!
2 – Just eliminate it!
Often we don’t actually realise that little things contribute to our stress levels throughout the day. Perhaps you left your lunch at home, or your phone suddenly dies in the middle of the day and you have no access to a charger.
To remain calm and focused, we need to consider these little “stress gremlins” that creep into our day.
As Lily Singh’s mentions in her book “How to be a Bawse”, it could be something as simple as keeping an extra charger on hand so that you never run out of battery power when you’re on the go.
I for one cannot bear the thought of being late for anything. While some may be able to brush this off and continue without batting an eyelid, I need to be early for appointments, else the stress gremlins attack!
YOUR PLAN OF ACTION: Take note of the little things that cause stress throughout the day, and figure out a way to eliminate these. Whether it’s leaving 10 minutes earlier for an appointment, or getting extra chargers, it’s the little things that will get you through the day (mostly!) stress-free.
3 – Don’t go at it alone
One of the most important things I’ve learnt in life and in business is: Stop trying to do everything yourself!
And it’s true, for some people the act of asking comes naturally while for others, it does not, and we push to do as much as we possibly can all by ourselves.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you find you’re juggling more balls than an octopus comfortably could, take a moment to see which tasks can be delegated. This could be something as simple as asking a friend or family member to help you out with dinner plans, or getting an assistant to help you with business tasks.
YOUR PLAN OF ACTION: Identify one thing that you can delegate, and get it done!
