Four Ways To Use Down Time Wisely In Preparing Your Business for the New Year!

As Entrepreneurs, “down time” in ANY form is a gift! It certainly should be used for rest, however we tend to work through a resting period. Some consider the ending of a year the time to really dig deep, rush to get work done, etc. I tend to look at the end of the year as a means to reflect on what could be done better for the New Year to come, so down time is extremely important for maintaining focus. Here are four methods that you should consider while taking advantage of your down time:

• If you know you have a free day, still make a To-Do List. You may not want to handle any business on a free day; make a To-Do list so that you will also know what NOT to do. If you are setting aside time to read, shop, visit with friends, or the like, design your list making sure not to include work!

• If work happens to be on your agenda on a free day, dedicate a certain amount of time to your work…and then stop. For example, when I am sure that I am getting free time to dedicate to myself, I will still start the day early and complete work from say 5:00am until 8:00am. Whatever I am not able to finish in those three hours will have to wait until the next day.

• Find something fun to do that doesn’t require you to use your brain much at all. This may sound crazy, but “playing” is also a great idea for adults, not just children! Watch a funny movie and laugh loudly; take a leisurely walk and snap pictures of the scenery from your cellular device; talk to a newborn and watch them smile back at you; strike up a conversation with someone in your favorite coffee shop about something as small as the best winter shoes; just do something “not so serious”; it’s relaxing!

• Document reflections of the outgoing year in your journal and use #hashtags! My journal entries are often times FULL of hashtags, and I absolutely love it. When I read what I’ve written, it makes me smile because we typically type our hashtags, not write them! Try something different! It’s your journal; use it how you see fit!

Wishing everyone reading this article a very Happy Holiday Season, and an even greater New Year! I hope that business will continue to boom for you! Remember: down time is a gift! Enjoy!