As we enter into the holiday season, we of course are filled with the excitement that comes with it – the excitement of your friends and family gathering together, toys and gifts under a Christmas tree, Christmas lights and decor, Thanksgiving meals galore. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, right?

For many, it’s not. There are lost family members (which makes this season especially hard,) and for business owners, holidays can either mean no work OR more work with no time. Either way, there are LOTS of emotions going around and for me, this season can bring on anxiety. 

I absolutely love getting together with my family, eating some great food and spending time with one another, but as a business owner who is constantly “go, go, go”, it leaves me feeling anxious for my clients. 

Do they think I should be working right now?

Is there something wrong with their website?

I really need to be working or I’ll get behind.

The last sentence is what gets me! The thought or feeling of being behind has always given me anxiety. I remember on every report card I received in Elementary School, there was always a comment of “she rushes on her schoolwork”. This stemmed from my hatred of being behind. 

Today, I want to share some tips that have helped me navigate this feeling of playing “catch up” during the holiday season. For the first time EVER, I am prioritizing being unplugged and taking on zero client work during the end of the year.

1. Open communication with your team and your clients. If you know me, I am a very open communicator. Sometimes, it can be to my disadvantage, but I always want others to feel like they are in the loop (because I remember times when I wasn’t). Let your team and your clients know that you’ll be taking a break this season — let them know your boundaries. Will you be responsive via email? When can someone expect to hear back from you? Will you be working at all? 
2. Time management is ESSENTIAL. I am a huge planner, so this comes natural to me, but it doesn’t for everyone. Be sure to allot ONLY the amount of time you have to upcoming projects and do not take on anything additional. Over-extending your availability for one small task will quickly turn into hours of work that you did not have the bandwidth to take on. 
3. Recognize the importance of rest. This is where it gets hard. Actually convincing yourself that you do actually need rest will take some work. Personally, I am on a constant hamster wheel when it comes to my work – this year, I’ve been through some hiring tasks and it has been TOUGH to outsource my sweet business into the hands of others. With that, I know I am needing some time to reevaluate and restructure myself so that I can be the best business owner possible.

These three things have really taken my mood to a whole new level. I have been sure to be very communicative with my team, present clients and future potential clients in saying that I will be taking time off to rest this season. How will you cope with anxiety during this holiday season?