Even the coolest, level-headed folks can succumb to the crazy and busy time of year known as “the holidays.” Indeed, from right around Thanksgiving to Christmas time, this span of just over one month boils down to a retail frenzy that can leave employees and business owners alike feeling rather drained. If you’re the owner of a small business, then it’s in your best interest to make sure that your team is feeling healthy, energized, and, quite frankly, sane. So, realistically, what can you to keep stress levels low while maximizing productivity during this peak shopping season?
Running Your Business Smoothly During The Holidays
Well, this is exactly what The Commercial Finance Group is going to address in today’s blog post! We care about the success of your company regardless of your size or whatever your product or service is. Small businesses represent the backbone of America’s economy and our working capital lenders recognize this fact. If you’re wondering whether a small business line of credit or factoring account receivables can help your business finance expansions or facilitate other transactions during this busy time of year, The Commercial Finance Group would love to help you find the right small business lending solutions. Learn more by contacting us today!
Now, we’re going to touch on some practical and useful tips to stay level-headed during the holiday chaos.
Create A To-Do List And Check It (At Least) Twice
If it’s not written down or typed out into some sort of spreadsheet or document, then you can consider your task at hand forgotten. How many times have you worked hard all day, jumping from task to task, only to realize that you’ve skipped over something very important? An increased workload necessitates better organization and relying on memory alone only goes so far for most people.
Once you see all of your commitments and “want to-do’s”, you’ll be able to prioritize all of the things that you need or want to do in the near future by deciding which ones to drop and which ones could wait until the new year. If possible, move your latter tasks onto the backburner and focus on what’s immediately at hand. For many people – even stressed out small business owners – there’s a legitimate psychological feeling of relief that comes from clearing out your mental clutter and removing some burdens. By doing this, you’ll be able to make your holidays more joyful (as well as for your friends and family) while also energizing yourself to accomplish the immediate tasks at hand.
Plan Early And Make Your Schedule Clear
Don’t wait until the week before Christmas to let your employees know about your availability. Eliminate surprises and unforeseen problems by notifying your staff or other relevant individuals of your schedule a good week or two in advance. To maximize work time while still getting a healthy amount of family time or personal time, some small business owners work non-conventional office hours by coming in very early or starting their day late. Ultimately, you know what needs to be done for your company better than everyone else, so schedule your time and availability accordingly. We understand that finding a perfect work/life balance is more challenging during the holidays than any other time of year, but by properly organizing your tasks and planning out your weeks in advance, this ideal time balance won’t seem so impossible.
Focus On One Impactful Project At A Time
Don’t try to juggle more projects than you can handle, as various aspects of your business could suffer if you’re not intentional with your time. Yes, staying focused in the midst of the hectic holiday season is challenging, but getting those immediate holiday-related tasks completed first might pan out to add more value to your company. Even if your current task at hand is something as seemingly trivial as helping your employees decorate your store or going on an impromptu coffee run to boost office morale, the smallest of actions can result in the greatest of impacts.
Remember, keeping an order of priorities and a day-to-day plan means that you’ll be much less likely to fall off-track by seasonal distractions.
Don’t Forget To Take A Break
While you’re taking every possible free moment to assist a customer, work through a spreadsheet or set up an in-store display, you can’t forget about the most overlooked aspect of any business: the owner! Though any time of year is a great time to take a break, the holiday season might just be the most rewarding time to do so. With everyone working hard to get those holiday bonuses and spoil the family, taking even a short five or ten-minute break can do wonders for your mental and physical health. What good is working hard at every possible moment when it’s just going to burn you out and leave you bedridden? Overworking yourself is not worth it. Just remember that a nice break here and there is beneficial for you, and thus it is beneficial for your business.
It’s Okay To Say No
While the 2008 movie Yes Man was an inspiring flick, it’s also healthy to say “no” at times, especially when it comes to the loosely-organized chaos of the holidays. If your holiday calendar is jam-packed with a myriad of festive networking events and meetings, don’t agree to all of these invites. Constantly going from one thing to the next without any rest or downtime at home can have a negative impact on your health.
As we briefly mentioned above with being intentional, clarifying the most important things for your situation as a business owner will help you navigate your invite list. For every invitation you receive, ask yourself this question: “Is this event going to help me achieve my top priorities?” Though it sounds selfish, if an event isn’t a good use of your time, then it probably isn’t worth attending. Accepting an invitation just because you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings is a bad business move, especially during a time of year where time is so valuable.
Don’t Forget About The State Of Your Cash Flow
During the hectic times of November and December, things can get so busy that you might forget to check in on the condition of your business’ cash flow. In light of these frequent transactions, this is a time of year when it is more important than ever to ensure that your company has the right amounts of working capital to keep things running smoothly. The Commercial Finance Group understands that you have more than enough to worry about at this time of year, so why not let our experienced small business lenders help you secure a working line of credit? Learn more about how asset-based lending and fully collateralized credit facilities can help your business today.
