With the holiday season getting closer, retailers across the country are preparing for their busiest time of the year. Getting ready for it takes a lot of preparation, which means extra work and longer hours, plus more anxiety and stress. And, when we get stressed out, lots of bad things can happen, like forgetting important purchase orders or becoming physically sick. That’s why managing stress is so important.
Owning a Business Is Stressful
It’s no secret that owning a small business is stressful. Even successful retailers experience a lot of stress that keeps them up at night, but the difference is that they know how to cope with it. To be more successful this holiday season, here are some helpful tips for managing seasonal stress during the busiest time of year:
1. Be Positive
What’s going right is always overshadowed by what’s going wrong. Being positive is one way to remember the good things that are working the way they should. To combat this feeling of negativity, experts suggest writing down a list of accomplishments and milestones.
2. Organize Tasks
It’s a proven fact that organizing and prioritizing daily tasks reduces stress. If possible, the automation of these tasks goes even further, because they are taken off the list. Feeling disorganized? An audit of frequent activities is a great way to get organized and to see what can be automated.
3. Delegate
Small business owners do everything, but they don’t have to, especially during the holiday season. To combat that feeling of being overwhelmed, they can delegate more to their employees, plus utilize outside resources to help carry the load.
4. Take Breaks
Regularly scheduled breaks are good, just not realistic. One good idea is to set an alarm to go off at least two times during the day. Another great way to take a break is to step away from the store for lunch.
5. Decompress
It’s really hard for any business owner to stop thinking about their business. But, at the end of the day, it’s very important to decompress. The most effective way to do this is to write a list of needs, wants, and worries. After that, if there’s time, watch a favorite TV show, read a good book, or go for a walk.
6. Exercise and Diet
Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins release stress. These hormones clear the brain of all the clutter accumulated throughout the day. Plus, it’s good for the heart. Drinking lots of water is also important, as well as paying attention to what’s on the menu. The right foods can have a powerful effect on stress levels.
How To Recognize Stress
Knowing exactly how stress manifests itself is the first step in recognizing that there may be a problem. This usually starts with the following:
- Quick to anger
- Easily frustrated
- Stomach aches and IBS
- Clenched jaw or fists
If not found out in time, these signs of stress may lead to more significant and detrimental actions, such as lashing out at employees, or worse, at customers. Retailers are always under a lot of stress, but coping with it in positive, healthy ways will keep it away.