Now that we are halfway through the year, how much time have you taken off? Do you have a vacation planned? If you’re working for yourself (like many people in the promotional products industry) it’s tempting to work all the time - but not smart. You will actually be more productive after you have taken some time off.
Practice the following strategies to stay fresh.
• Spend at least one 24- to 48-hour period a week not working. Don't go into your office. Don't looking at or answer email, voice mail and texts during this period. Modern technology can make it impossible to get away, so you've got to practice self-discipline and take care of yourself both mentally and physically. It won’t happen if you never stop working.
• Find time to do things you enjoy that are not work-related. It’s amazing how creative you'll be after a break doing something fun that’s not work-related.
• Set priorities. Know what is most important in your life and what can wait. My family comes first, that's my priority. I use the services of a virtual assistant and a part-time secretary to take over when I can't be here. I have also closed the office when I had to, and you know what – my business continued to thrive! Customers understand you are human and need a break on occasion.
• Plan regular vacations. Build them into your calendar months ahead of time. Your customers will survive without you. If you work alone, start in advance to train a friend, colleague a relative or virtual assistant to fill in for you while you’re gone.
• Surround your workplace with things you love. Pictures, plants, music. They all are important components of my office. I love being in my office. This makes it a pleasure to start my workday and keep me comfortable throughout it.
• Get help. Don't try and do it all yourself. I always make it a habit to get help, even during lean times. It frees me up to concentrate on what I do best. College students, especially marketing majors, make great part-time help. They're knowledgeable, great with technology and love to learn.
• Commit to spending some quiet time with your favorite person – you! This practice will do more than support you through difficult times. It will ensure that you are committed to making choices about your life and your business that bring you back to yourself and awakens your dreams.
• Keep regular business hours. Overworking yourself and business burnout are common in our industry. Resolve to keep regular business hours, even when you work at home. Let your family, friends and clients know your working hours and keep to a consistent schedule.
• Reward yourself. Here's my favorite strategy for keeping myself going. Whenever I’m working on a time-consuming project with lots of challenges, I keep myself going by focusing on how good I'll feel when I'm done and, of course, on my next great vacation. I always like to give myself a reward at the end. As soon as I finish a big project I’m currently working on I’m rewarding myself with a special mini-vacation and a day at a beautiful spa. The next time you're working really hard on a project keep yourself motivated by thinking about how you’ll reward yourself!
Enjoy this month and remember to take time out!
Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach, is a promotional products business expert, coach and speaker. Combining her skills and years of experience in promotional sales, she helps her clients sell more at higher profit margins and dramatically increase their incomes! Get a free special report: "10 Big Mistakes Promotional Professionals Make and How to Avoid Them" at www.promobizcoach.com. Reach her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com.