Small-business owners work hard to capitalise on the holiday season, executing a range of initiatives like providing special discounts, extending opening hours, or sending out a flurry of email/social media communications. But it's equally important for small-business owners to take breaks, do their own holiday shopping and enjoy the season's pleasures.
the busy holidays can be one of the most stressful and challenging times of the year for business owners, who risk impacting their mental health and burning out.
What are the signs of burnout for a business owner?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from "chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Burnout is physical or mental exhaustion caused by overwork or ongoing high stress.
Some of the early warning signs of burnout include:
- Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
- Frustration
- Difficulty making decisions
- Reduced effectiveness
- Inability to concentrate
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to stop thinking about the business when not working
- Irritability, snapping at people
- Feelings of negativism or cynicism
- Struggling to get a good night's sleep
How can a business owner avoid burnout during the hectic holiday season?
How can small-business owners use the seasonal occasion to boost sales without overworking themselves and neglecting their own needs? These eight practices can help you find that all-important balance between the two.
1. Make every effort to prevent understaffing
Nothing will exhaust you more than being short-staffed when things get hectic. Employees will want to take leave, take extended lunch breaks and leave work early over the holiday period. While it’s important to reward and recognise employees for their hard work throughout the year, a balanced approach is critical to ensure staffing remains robust.
Consider some of these tips to avoid unforeseen understaffing problems:
- Set a deadline date for employee time off requests, weeks before things get busy, to give you time to plan your staffing needs.
- Set vacation blackout restrictions during the holiday season. If you do this, notify employees well ahead of time so that they can plan their personal and life commitments.
- Offer attractive incentives, such as extra pay or special discounts, to encourage some employees to work additional hours during the holidays. Consider also giving extra days off to those who work during peak times.
- Allow employees to swap shifts to meet their holiday obligations and needs without interfering with operations.
Regardless of how well you plan, you may still have shortages during peak holiday times. One way to reduce stress is asking employees to adhere to the 80/20 rule, which means everyone should concentrate on the 20 per cent of their effort that will produce 80 per cent of the results. For example, enhancing customer satisfaction should be prioritised, while organising stock would be less critical.
2. Hire extra help for the festive season
One way to capitalise on the season without overworking yourself is to recruit some extra help. Here are a few pointers:
- Look for temporary employees with the personality and work ethic that fits your culture. They will fit in quickly and could be a future permanent hire.
- Cast a wide net to attract people you trust to do the job, so you don't unintentionally add stress for yourself and your staff. For example, in addition to using referrals from current employees, don't be reluctant to consider family members to help you manage the holiday rush.
Other simple but essential initiatives include stocking up early on gift packaging or extra shipping supplies, ordering client and staff gifts, and having everything on hand for office or shop decorations.
3. Press the pause button a few times a day
As a business owner, you're predisposed to work tirelessly for hours without taking breaks. It's easy to convince yourself that you don't have time for breaks, especially when things get crazy. Pay attention to your body and mind and take a break when you need one.
Set a phone reminder to get up at regular intervals to grab five or ten minutes for yourself, stretch your body, pedal your bike, or go for a quick walk and get some fresh air. Taking these short breaks during hectic workdays reduces stress and alleviates fatigue.
4. Don't skip your lunch break
When you're swamped with work during the busy season, you may be tempted to grab something to eat quickly or even persuade yourself that you're not that hungry and can wait until dinner. Don't short-change yourself; step away from the business to take a real lunch break, even if it's just take-out. Not taking your lunch breaks can leave you feeling drained at the end of the day.
5. Do your personal holiday shopping during your workday
Don't wait until the end of your business day or use your lunch break to do your own holiday shopping. Arrange for someone to mind the place while you go away for an hour or so. Weekday mornings are optimal times to avoid crowds, as most shoppers are at work or getting their kids ready for school, so aisles are quieter and checkout lines are shorter. A little foresight goes a long way to satisfy your own needs and lessen your stress.
6. Safeguard your personal time by setting boundaries
Constantly thinking about your business during the holiday season is a sure-fire way to become exhausted and burnt-out . Consider some core habits that help you capitalise on the holiday period while still enjoying it. For example:
- Make it a personal rule not to discuss business with friends and family during social events. This is especially important if you run a family business and your dinner companions are also your business partners.
- When you get home for dinner, remind yourself not to bring your daily stresses to the dinner table with your loved ones. Allow yourself 60-90 minutes to unwind by focusing on something other than your business.
- Make your personal time a priority by skipping some holiday social events. Use the time to unplug and focus on self-care, such as getting a massage, going for a walk or a run, going to the gym, or getting more sleep.
7. Collaborate with reliable competitors
It might sound counter-intuitive but collaborating with a trusted competitor sometimes helps you enjoy the holidays while taking care of your customers. For example, a plumbing company might offload urgent business by recommending another plumber during a holiday shut-down period.
8. Pre-plan everything for next year
The backbone of a calmer holiday season for any small business is pre-planning. When this year’s festive season ends, do some preparation work for next year to reduce the stress of doing too much at your busiest time. This includes pre-planning social media posts or blogs, finishing your holiday marketing campaign well before the season begins, and placing advance orders for popular items to meet your vendors' deadlines.
The takeaway
Don't forget what the holidays are all about; a time to connect with loved ones and savour the season's joys. Balance your effort to maximise profits for your business during the holiday rush with an equal effort to create joyful experiences and memories for yourself and your loved ones during the festive season.