Once Thanksgiving is over, things get hectic. Employees want more time off. You probably want more time off. There always seems to be more to do and not enough time to do it, and your personal life tends to become crazier as well.
Staying ahead during the holidays when you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur takes some time and effort. Here are some things to keep in mind as you hurtle through the holiday season:
1. Work Ahead When You Can
The best thing you can do is to work ahead. As a freelancer, I know that there are certain times that I just won’t get anything done. This is especially true during the current holiday season, as I will be traveling for nine days as I head East to take my son to his father and spend Christmas with my sister. While I hope to get work done during this time period, realistically, I know that I probably won’t accomplish much.
This is where working ahead comes in. I have a couple of relatively calm weekends between now and then, so I know I just need to buckle down and do what I can. You can do something similar with your own work. Figure out what needs to be done before the end of the year and tackle that first. Staying ahead during the holidays often means working ahead when you have a free minute so that you have peace of mind later.
2. Coordinate Schedules
Make sure that you understand when the people you rely on are heading out for their own holiday travel. Coordinating schedules is important. I let clients know that I will be unavailable during certain times of the month, as well as available on a limited basis while I travel.
Know when your virtual assistant won’t be at 100%, and if you have employees work out a schedule that makes sense and that you can work around. Knowing everyone’s schedule can help you prioritize tasks for the month (before people leave) and also let you know where others can fill in.
3. Know What to Let Slide
Finally, staying ahead during the holidays requires that you know what to let slide. You might not be able to get to everything during this time, and it doesn’t help anyone if you put too much stress on you and your employees. Instead, pay attention to what you can let slide. Know that some things will have to be let go, and then let them go. If you can move something to the first of the year, rather than try to squeeze in one more thing during the holidays, you’ll be much less stressed.
You don’t have to do everything right now. Look ahead to what you can get done early, and make sure you understand when your team will be available, and then move forward the best you can. You’ll have a better holiday season, and you’ll have peace of mind.
