Tips_Help

Too Much on Your Plate?
Ten Tips to Help You Cope
By Victoria K. Munro

During the holidays, it's easy to overindulge - there are lots of opportunities
to load up our plates with scrumptious holiday fare. For an entrepreneur with
a business to run, balancing the additional demands of family and holiday
events can prove overwhelming. In both instances, the results of too much
on your plate can be harmful.

Wearing the many hats of a small-business owner is tough at the best of
times. When your business starts to really take off, perhaps before the
needed cash is flowing to hire the right help, it can be even more challenging.
Add to that some holiday stress, and the pressures skyrocket. You can find
yourself caught in a relentless cycle-finishing each day with a longer "to-do"
list than when you started in the morning.

Use the following tips to help keep your health and sanity, stay energized and
focused, and enjoy this holiday season.

1. Focus on the Big Picture

Develop a daily habit of taking time, even a few minutes, to reflect on your
ultimate goal for your life and your business. Plan your day with this in mind.

2. Take Control of Your Day with a To-Do List

Create meaningful daily to-do lists based on your weekly plan. At the end of
each day, review your accomplishments, congratulate yourself on
achievements and discover what you can learn from tasks that were
scheduled but not accomplished.

3. Live by Priorities

Be crystal clear about the tasks you want to accomplish each day. Ruthlessly
prioritize these and then complete them in order, resisting any temptation to
skip over or postpone the tough ones.

4. Set Realistic Expectations

Don't pack too many projects into a day. Allow flextime for those unexpected
phone calls and employee or family interruptions.

5. Look at the Positive

Always aim to see the glass as half full. Turn your attention to things that
have gone well.

6. Choose How You'll Respond

Stress is a normal part of life. We can't avoid it and we can't always choose
our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to events. Decide
beforehand to stay serene.

7. Don't Over Commit

Like the tendency to load up your plate with too many holiday goodies, over
commitment can make you sick. Determine not to take on more projects than
you can comfortably handle.

8. Talk Over Difficult Issues

Discuss your challenges with a trusted friend or board of advisors. This can
alleviate stress and clarify your perspective.

9. Take Care of Your Body

You will be far more effective after a good night's sleep. Also, physical
exercise relieves tension.

10. Take Time to Recharge

Taking a break will make you more resistant to stress. Even five-minute
breaks to relax, breathe deeply and think about something fun and pleasant
can help. Plan time for fun too-laughter is good medicine. Taking time this
holiday season to relax and play shouldn't be considered a luxury.

Victoria K. Munro is co-founder (along with husband Dave Block) of Make-it-Fly� LLC, a
company dedicated to creating success for small business owners through creatively designed
programs and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different businesses. To receive FREE
business success articles with tips to help you with your business, sign up for their
award-winning ezine, "In-Flight Refueling," at: http://www.Make-it-Fly.com and receive a free
copy of the eBook, Get More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics & Tips.