3 Tips To Survive The Christmas Countdown

For a lot of people these last two weeks to the big day are going to be characterised by the mantra “I have so much to do”. So, whether you are trying to

• meet your client’s “I must have this before Christmas”, or

• get all your files up-to-date so no one bothers you while you are on holiday, or

• cover off the 101 things that always seem to need to be done before the big day

here are three techniques you can use to make it a bit easier.

TIP 1 – Be Clear What is Important to You

If your family are the number one thing in your life, ask yourself:  “How can I approach this to make sure I spend as much time as possible with my family?

If you are looking to wow a client, ask yourself: “What would really make a difference to this person?” AND “How can I deliver this with the least possible effort?”

TIP 2 – Delegate It, Dump It or Just Do It

It is easy to think this is my responsibility or that everything on the list MUST be done. But this isn’t always the case.

Ask yourself: “Who can I delegate this to?” AND then delegate it

Extra tip: Think laterally – there may be someone you wouldn’t normally ask but who might just say yes.  AND if they say no – you aren’t any worse off.

If you can’t delegate it, ask yourself: “Does it really need to be done / done before Christmas / done before I go on Holiday”?

Extra tip: If the answer is yes, ask yourself what the likely consequences are if you don’t do it. If you can live with the answer, consider dumping it.

Everything you can’t delegate or dump, prioritise in your order of importance and work your list in priority order – because at least then you will at least know the things most important to you are done.

TIP 3 – Live in Day Tight Compartments

A lot of our stress comes from worrying about what may happen tomorrow or next week or next month etc., rather than focussing on ensuring we have done what we can do today.

Put what needs to be done in the order which meets your values and then before you cross anything off your list ask yourself “Have I done all I can do today on this?”

If the answer is no, follow through with what else you know you still need to do (once again you will then have the peace of mind that the most important thing to you has been done)

If the answer is yes, put aside worrying: THERE IS NOTHING MORE YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS TODAY, so let it go.

And finally remember the old adage: no one on their death bed ever wished they spent more time at the office (or cleaning or cooking or anything else that is often prefaced with I really should…).