Once again a year is coming to its’
close. The harried hustle seems to be
contagious and can be overwhelming.
Retailers are gearing up for the end of year sales push, businesses are
pulling together the end of year numbers, people are trying to fit one more
thing into their already crowded calendars and school children are counting
down the days until winter break. For
those of us living in the northern regions, we are pulling on our winter coats
and trying to remember where we put that other glove. Every year this happens and every year we
make it through.
This month, instead of a “Success Rule”,
I thought I’d pass along some tips to get you through with your sanity
intact. If you have been a “Success
Rule” reader, some of these might look familiar. But it is nice to have them all in one place
to remind you of their need, especially at this time of year.
1. Laugh! – Watch a favorite comedy show, go to a card store and
read the cards in the “Humorous” section, spend time with people who make you
laugh, watch crazy cat/dog/people videos on YouTube, play dress up with a
5-year old, there are so many ways to tickle your funny bone and now is the
time!
2. Cry! – The holiday season is often a hard time of year as we
remember years gone by and the people who are no longer with us. Trying to be cheery and bright can be a tall
order. Let yourself cry. It’s alright to allow those tears to well up
and fall from time to time. Even sob if
you must, it is cleansing. Then pick
yourself up, wipe your nose and refer to tip number one. Of course, if you are truly depressed, seek
help. Talk to your doctor or a trusted
friend. There is no shame in admitting
that you just aren’t coping too well with life right now.
3. Sing! – Who cares if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, sing
anyway! Everywhere you go at this time
of year, Christmas music is playing. If
you don’t know the words, hum! Need some
cheer right now, how about “Grandma Got Run Over
by a Reindeer”or “I Want A HippopotamusFor Christmas”
4. Say No! – It seems that there are invitations to parties, family
get-togethers, stores with that “Sale of the Year” that you can’t afford to
miss, church events, cards to send, appointments to make, buying food, cooking
food and, my favorite, eating food.
Nowhere is it written, or at least not that I could find, that you have
to say yes to everything. Do what you
want to do and let the rest go. Make a
mental list, if not a physical one, of what is on your plate so to speak. Prioritize the things that are most important
to you. If you run into a situation
where you feel pushed to say yes, but would rather say no, be honest and say
no. A simple response I use is “I am
sorry, but I can’t fit one more thing onto my plate right now.” If someone is asking to spend time with you
over the holiday season, and you would like to do that, suggest you get
together in the New Year.
5. Give yourself a day off! - Go to your
calendar, date book, phone app or whatever right now, pick a day and mark it
“My day off”. Then stick to it! (See
number 4 above) That means, if someone
asks you to do something that day, you say, “Oh, I’m sorry, I am already booked
that day for something else.” Of course,
if it’s something you really and truly want to do, then do it as a treat to
yourself. Use that day to treat yourself
to down time, do something you like, a hobby perhaps. If you have a spouse and/or children, let
them know it is your day off and they are on their own. If you need to, go somewhere away from the
stress.
6. Don’t Worry, Be Happy! – If doing numbers four and five seem out of your
comfort zone, don’t worry, people will get over it. If they don’t, they don’t. In either case, do not allow others to steal
your joy. We are as happy as we make up
our minds to be. - Abraham Lincoln
7. Enjoy the sunshine! – Although the days are shorter, there is still some
sunshine. Perhaps not every day, but at
some point, the sun does shine. Get out
in it whenever you can. Too cold? Open your blinds and just enjoy the
view. Remember, December 22 is the
winter solstice. After that, the days
will start getting longer.
There are only a few weeks left in 2013,
you may be surprised at how much better they can be if you follow these tips to
endure and persevere.
Have a Great Holiday Season and a Happy
New Year! See you in 2014!
Executive
Assistant
Leader
Development Institute
www.LDiWorld.com
