Holiday Survival Tips for Self-Employed Small Business Owners

If you want a laugh, just ask self-employed small business owners what they have planned for their holiday season relaxation time.

I bet the responses you receive will undoubtedly have a high number of laughs, because the end of the year is traditionally a significant stress season, and self-employed small business owners are notorious for their inability to relax and enjoy the season.

December has a reputation as being the highest-stress month of the year for small business owners. Why? Here are some reasons.

• Year-end financials,
• Year-end projects,
• Next year’s planning and expectations,
• Goal setting for the new year,
• Customer gratitude,
• Staff gratitude.

These are just some of the causes of stress a small business owner can have in December that takes the “Merry“ out of Christmas for them.

The bottom line of all this is that you can turn this around, meaning that you can find the time to enjoy the season. Not only is this wonderful news. It is a must for small business owners.

You need to read the following tips.

• Make a definite time to take a break. You must position yourself to make this happen, as the tendency will be for you to back out of this. Put down that to-do list, define the time frame and quickly make a note of the dates on your calendar. Commit to a break, and you will be forever thankful.
• Look at your expectations, and don’t let go. You will need to put in a fair amount of work to ensure you take your deserved break. So plan ahead and tell everyone, customers and team members, that you are asking for some time off.
• Understand that not everything may run smoothly. It is not the case of “the cat’s away, so the mice will play”; it is just that it is holiday time for everyone. Everything may not run smoothly, but if everyone is aware you are having a break, they will try harder to make it all work while you are gone.
• Shut down the computer. This will arguably be the most challenging thing you need to do, but if you don’t bite the bullet, electronics will drive you mad, so shut them off. Although this seems almost impossible, you will find life on the other side to be fun, so enjoy it while you can.
• Be Grateful. Take a look back and be grateful for the things that come from being self-employed. Consider where you would be if you had not taken the plunge into the small business world.

The blessings will start to unfold, and your holiday time will give you some freedom to think about where you want to be in the next 12 months.

However, the fact is that family time with loved ones, holiday traditions, and real relaxation time away from the business will be the healthiest thing that you can do for yourself.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from all of us at The Self Employed Business Academy.

This article is part of our series reveiwing 2022 articles. Other articles in this series include:
2022 in Review: Mindset, Processes, Selling Skills and Growing your Business
Reviewing 2022: Project Management, Reducing Paper and Profitable Pricing
2022 in Review: Marketing and Leadership