Juggling End of Year Stress

As I reflect on what the most important read for my clients could be given the timeline, I am thinking about personally how this time of the year is, and has, affected me. There are a lot of differences throughout the workforce, but certain stressors and deadlines remain the same. When the end of the quarter approaches throughout the year things like budgets, billing, sales and project deadlines become the norm. Now, when it is the end of the year and quarter all in one bucket, it seems as those all these things are amplified. In addition to workplace targets, the influence of the holidays adds another layer of responsibility and organization to an already full plate.
 
Full disclosure, I am undoubtedly a strong type A personality. The reason I am sharing this is because when the hammer comes to down to make sure all the fine tune details have been handled with care, I naturally develop more stress and anxiety to achieve perfection. With that being said my goal of this article is to expose some of my secrets to keep chugging along and excel through the most stressful days of the year. Admittedly, I am also writing this piece to serve as a reminder to myself how to handle all the joys and obligations the end of the year delivers.
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Tip #1: Stay Organized

​The most simple and effective tip to cut down on stress is to stay organized. Investing the extra 30 to 60 minutes to develop a plan will save hours on the back end. For myself this is taking the time on Sunday to get ready for the week. Being in sales, I want to know exactly where each one of my stops is going to be and the approximate time each will take in order to be most efficient. Another helpful organization tip is developing an objective with set checkpoints to track progress and keep each milestone meaningful. Even though these will just be small chunks of the big picture, it will help to promote productivity.

​Tip #2: Devote time to de-stressing activities

When planning out time and how to fit in each aspect of the 24-hour day we are allotted, devote some to the activity that allows you to take your mind of the work topic at hand. My personal preference is the gym and volleyball. I spend at least an hour each morning sweating out my stress and trying (keyword-trying) to remove my mind from all the chaos. I have to admit this past week meant more sacrifice to my sleep schedule than normal, but I utilize self-awareness to prioritize my workout routine.
 
Another refreshing activity I take part in to slow down is reading in the evening before hitting the pillow. Not only does reading give my eyes and mind time to adjust away from electronics, I can slow down my heart rate and truly engage solely in the pages in front of me. Friends of mine have mentioned yoga, meditation, pottery, cooking and more to step away from the strain. It all depends on what YOU prefer. What are a couple activities you engage in to de-stress?
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​Tip #3: Sleep!

​This tip seems simple, but can be a turning point between falling off into the deep end and accepting the crazy days ahead with grace. All people are different regarding what amount of sleep truly works for their body, but science shows between six and eight hours is required to maintain a healthy physical state. My personal goal last week was seven hours and I fell just short. Given the amount of anxiety I felt last week, I am setting this goal for myself again this week. Start preparing for bed a little earlier if you have morning activities to partake in that do not fluctuate in time. Also, make a concerted effort to put down the electronics a fair amount of time before closing your eyes. You will get more meaningful and restful sleep. 

Tip #4: Remember the ‘Why’ 

​When you strap on your boots or heels each and every day, it is important to take a moment and reflect on why you do what you do. Some days when tensions are running high and stress gets the best of you, it may seem like an impossible task. We are all human, so this will happen, but it will help to hold yourself accountable to concentrate on your ‘why’ being at the center of your actions. The benefit of being self-aware is even higher during the year-end deadlines we have been discussing. Rediscover your passions and actively spend your energy in this space.
 
There are many other tips that can help us get through stressful times and I would be happy to hear any other suggestions! I hope these will help alleviate some grind it out moments as 2018 comes to a close! Happy Holidays everyone.