The excitement and stress of the holiday season can affect everyone, but for people who own and operate small businesses, the stress can be even more monumental.
Most small business owners prepare their business for the season by stocking up on inventory, designing displays, and advertising sales and seasonal promotions.
But, how do small business owners prepare themselves for the busy shopping season?
Prepare, Prepare and Prepare
Get your business prepared long before the holidays start. Most small business owners agree that preparing before the holiday season actually starts helps to alleviate stress in the business but personally as well. Let’s face it, stress in your business, is personal stress, especially when you are operating as all departments in your business.
Something to look forward to
One other way small business owners say that they prepare, for personal self care, is that they plan something to look forward to after the busy holiday season.
Planning a few personal days away from work, to spend with family and friends. “Even just staying home and sleeping in”, says one owner,” is enough to look forward to” in order to make it through the excitement and hustle of the season. Another small business owner admits to planning a vacation, to look forward to. “This vacation plan gives me a mental boost to stay the course”.
I, personally, have planned to take a few days to enjoy the spa after the holidays, just to refocus and recharge.
Enjoying the now
With the reality of knowing that small businesses took, and are still enduring, a big financial hit, during the pandemic, quite a few owners tell me that they are just enjoying the excitement and positivity of the now. As people return to pre covid ways, the spending is more in an upward swing then in the past two years. “Just being able to see that we may be in the black, is selfcare enough for me” states one small business owner.
As a small business owner, what are you doing to take care of yourself personally? Do you participate in any of the ways above or is there something else you do to take care of you, during the excitement of this season?
Share your thoughts.
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Fantastic tips! As a small business owner I try to plan time away from work (it’s easy to get wrapped up in it) and so Im trying to still enjoy time with people I care about – away from my computer!
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Beautiful reminders that work. Focusing on the moment and planning will leave the unnecessary stress far away.
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This a great calm out with great tips. People forget that this is a hard season for lots of people, whether it be business stress, financial strain, family difficulties, or even coping with grief. I’m looking forward to traveling with my husband this Christmas!
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The holidays can definitely be a lot so it’s important to make some me-time 🙂 Thanks for the reminder!
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I can so totally relate to this – and appreciate the good advice. I have an online business and also vend at holiday markets and I’m already worn out so much with more to come. This year I was more prepared – and earlier than ever. And still it’s exhausting. Like your recommendation, I’m planning a week off between Christmas and NYE and just keep thinking of those days as my little carrot, so I can approach every day and every customer until then with more joy in my heart.
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My hate is off to you. Several of the owners we spoke to for this article agree, planning beforehand and having a “pot of gold” after was essential.
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I used to have an Etsy shop but had enough handmade jewelry in stock for those days
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Making preparations is so important if you want things to run smoothly. I know it helps me to not feel less stressed when I plan ahead for the holiday season.
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I feel this in such a big way. Just making it through feels like self care for sure.
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Thanks for sharing this. I needed to read this right about now. Slowing down is key to enjoying the holidays!
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Pre pandemic when I had my own small business I had to prepare months before for the holidays so that I have enough time for myself and my family. Great Post!
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