It’s that time of year when you’re wrapping up presents to give your customers, staff, friends, and family. You’re probably also doing end of year inventory and beginning to prepare financial reports for tax season. There are also a variety of holiday parties, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities to attend!
If you’re not getting enough rest, your immune system could get compromised and you could get sick. It’s not just a coincidence that many people are sick during vacation or the holidays. As a culture, we typically “burn the candle at both ends” trying to do more than we should.
There’s only so much you can do! Try these tips to have a healthy, more relaxed holiday season.
Gift giving!
Give the same gift to the bulk of your list. Perhaps monogram the gift to personalize it for each person.
Wrap presents as you buy them, or get them wrapped at the store.
Encourage your family to create on-line wish lists to make choosing gifts less stressful. You’ll have a better idea of what they want, including their size and color preferences.
Tag team with a friend or family member to help each other shop. You could split up lists and cover more ground at the mall.
Chill Out!
Keep at least one evening a week to relax at home. This doesn’t mean, baking, cleaning, wrapping presents, or shopping online. You need time to unplug and rest.
Do your best to get a full night’s sleep. Begin unwinding an hour before bedtime by dimming lights, drinking a warm, caffeine free beverage, and turning off the TV and internet. Listen to light music, read, or just enjoy talking to your loved ones.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
Try to maintain a fairly healthy diet, which is challenging with so many traditional offerings being laden with fat and sugar. Eat a small meal prior to holiday gatherings to prevent from overindulging in seasonal treats.
Find ways to lighten up your favorite holiday recipes. Use light butter or olive oil in place of butter. Try a lower calorie sweetener or a half sweetener/half sugar substitute mixture when baking.
Plan meals in advance. If you know you’ll be extra busy, you could try using a crock pot to cook meals while you’re at work. You could also cook several meals in advance and reheat them on your busy nights.
Drink alcohol and caffeine in moderation. If you are at a holiday party drink a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage. This will help you stay hydrated, which may help prevent a hangover.
Hold a cookie exchange! Bake several dozen of the same cookie, and exchange them with friends/family, who bake a different cookie. This will cut down on your ingredients, save time, and still give you a variety of cookies to enjoy.
Be Realistic!
Remember that you’re human. You’re allowed to make mistakes. You’re also allowed to ask for help. You can’t be everything for everybody.
Delegate tasks. Ask a friend or partner to share responsibilities. If you’re hosting a holiday party, ask guests to bring a dish to pass.
Whether your passion is continuing family holiday traditions, worshipping at church, or giving your time to a charity, focus on what is most important to you.
We hope you put into practice at least one of the above tips to help avoid burnout and enjoy the holiday season. Our goal at Strategic Practice Solutions is to help you unleash your team’s hidden potential so you can effectively manage your dental practice! Contact us today to schedule a free practice assessment. It’s time for your practice’s checkup!
Strategic Practice Solutions, LLC