There may be several particularly busy periods during the course of a year. One of them is generally the couple of months coming up towards Christmas and the New Year. Whether you celebrate the festive season or not, as we approach the turn of the year, demands on our time and the pressure to get things done may increase.
There may be additional tasks to do, events to plan and/or occasions to prepare for. You may want to clear your work desk in preparation for the New Year and a fresh start.
There are three ways of approaching busy periods. You may consider how to
- prevent
- reduce or
- cope
with such times.
Here are seven tips to ease the path and help feel on top of it all …
1. Goals and priorities
Be clear about the top 3 goals you want to achieve by the end of the year. Make a list of the tasks associated with each, how long each task will take and when you will do them. Be precise about this, which days and at what times will you do them? If, as you plan, you realise there’s more than can realistically be achieved, adjust your goals accordingly.
2. Secondary tasks
Keep a separate list of secondary or less important tasks. You don’t want to lose sight of them altogether but equally you want to avoid them stealing time away from those actions that will take you towards your goals. When you have some downtime or feel you need a break from the most important tasks, address some of these secondary actions so they don’t build up.
3. Chunk your task time and build in break time
Build patterns into your task time, whether these actions be personal or professional. Think about your body clock and for how long you can concentrate well. The Pomodoro Technique talks about blocking your time into 25-minute sections followed by a 5-minute break. However, you may want to adapt this to suit your concentration ability and design patterns to suit your own style. For some, this may mean the Pomodoro works; if your concentration is briefer, break it down into 15 minutes + 5 minutes break, whereas if you have sustained concentration, work for an hour and take a ten- or 15-minute break.
4. Breaks mean breaks
Use break time effectively and do something completely different from your tasks. Walk away from your desk. Get some fresh air, get up and walk about, do some meditation or exercise.
5. Say no to extras that feel too much
Avoid taking on extra tasks and commitments during the height of your busy time. This means saying no assertively, politely and effectively to demands on your time that you don’t want to take on. You will know when such requests are unwelcome, as you are likely to get that sinking feeling when someone says: “Can you do me a favour?”
6. If you can’t do it all yourself….
If you realise it’s all too much, who can you ask for help? Is there a colleague or friend or family member who can assist? Alternatively, find a Virtual Assistant to help you ‘as and when’ you need them: https://societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk/
7. A bit of balance in your life
Balance those busy times, not only with breaks throughout the day, but with enjoyable plans for the times you’re not working. This gives you plans to look forward to when the day is done. A mix of simply switching off mentally, relaxing before an exciting TV drama, going out to a film, theatre, cinema or restaurant, or workouts in the pool or gym are great ways to counter and balance those demanding days.
Keeping control of demanding times
With a combination of time management and assertive communication you can attain your goals as you complete the tasks on your main and secondary lists. Ticking them off as you do them is very motivational! If you reach capacity, a change of pace and/or environment is great for recharging. Remember to be assertive in both asking for help and in refusing to take on those extra unwanted tasks, unless they are part of your working contract.
If you are interested in exploring life coaching further, you are welcome to arrange a free initial call for 20 minutes without obligation. My combination of coaching and 121 training can add quality to your life personally and professionally and enable you to achieve your goals. It will be adapted to you as an individual and your unique circumstances.
