The Busy-ness of Christmas
Why small business owners need that midwinter break we all crave for
For many small businesses, the Christmas season is the busiest of the year. It can be the season that makes or breaks your business if you are operating in a sector that makes perhaps half of their annual income in just these few weeks. The pressure that this can place on the small business owner, even if they have employees to share the load, can be tremendous. What we need to always remember is that we are all human, we all need to pause, rest, recover and recharge if we are to return to the excitement and thrust that we love about our businesses.
The Importance of a Midwinter Break for Business Professionals
As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, it's not uncommon for business professionals to find themselves feeling drained and overwhelmed. The constant pressure to meet deadlines, exceed targets, and maintain a healthy work-life balance can take a toll on even the most seasoned executives, let alone those who run micro-businesses or side hustles alongside their ‘day job’. This is why taking a midwinter break is not just a luxury, but a necessity for sustained success and well-being.
Recharging Your Batteries
The winter months can be particularly challenging, as reduced sunlight and decreased opportunities for outdoor activities can lead to a dip in energy levels and with this, motivation can diminish. Add to this the utterly energy-sapping bustle of Christmas festivities and other cultural traditions of the winter that involve gifts, lots of eating and drinking and getting together with families, and we have a recipe for exhaustion and burnout.
A midwinter break provides a much-needed opportunity to step away from the daily grind, recharge your batteries, and return to work feeling refreshed and reinvigorated. Whether it's a weekend getaway to a sunny destination, a spa break away from constant contact with the world, or simply taking some time off to relax at home, the break can do wonders for your mental and physical health.
Boosting Creativity and Productivity
When you're constantly immersed in work, it can be difficult to come up with fresh ideas and innovative solutions. You get stuck on the treadmill of emails and fulfilling orders and customer service and the usual grind and your creative spark diminishes. It is the creative spark that keeps businesses surviving and thriving.
A midwinter break allows you to clear your head, gain new perspectives, and return to work with a renewed sense of creativity and productivity. Stepping away from the familiar environment of the office can stimulate your mind, help you approach challenges with a fresh outlook, and best of all, come up with new ideas and burning new passions to work on.
Preventing Burnout
Burnout is a serious issue that can affect anyone, regardless of their profession or experience level, and have negative impacts on their physical and mental health. The symptoms of burnout include exhaustion, cynicism, and a decreased sense of accomplishment.
Taking a midwinter break can help prevent burnout by giving you a chance to rest, recharge, and reconnect with your passions and interests outside of work.
Improving Overall Well-being
Taking a break is not just good for your professional life; it's also essential for your overall well-being. When you're well-rested and relaxed, you're better able to cope with stress, maintain healthy relationships, and enjoy life to the fullest. A midwinter break can provide the opportunity to focus on self-care, engage in activities you enjoy, and spend quality time with loved ones. Even a few days focusing on yourself and those whom you value most in your life can turn the tide of those feelings of exhaustion and drained energy that the frantic rush towards midwinter and the seasonal holiday can generate. Honour your needs, especially at this special time of midwinter, when the season starts to turn its face towards the spring.
Making the Most of Your Midwinter Break
To make the best use of your midwinter break, it's important to plan ahead and set clear boundaries in your business. Let your colleagues and clients know that you'll be unavailable during your time off, and then stick to putting down the phone for a few days (we recommend locking it in a drawer and proper hibernation!) and resist the temptation to check work emails or messages (and we suggest doing same to your work laptop!). Instead, focus on activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Whether it's spending time in nature, pursuing a hobby, or simply catching up on sleep, make sure to use your break to truly disconnect and recharge. Our team at Athena already have some wintering plans. For Jackie, it will be a few quiet days spent with her nose in a novel and catching up with her TBR; Jess will have her canvases and paints out and intends to fill her home with her own artworks; David is going to be strumming a few new riffs in readiness for next year’s round of gigs. Because doing a little of what lights us up in downtime, keeps us sharp and bubbling over with enthusiasm during our work time.
Remember, taking a midwinter break is an investment in your health, well-being, and professional success. By prioritizing rest and relaxation, you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges of the business world and achieve your goals in the long run. What are your plans for a well-deserved midwinter break? Dip into our Facebook page or Instagram and share your ideas!