Think As Inc

COUNTDOWN TO YEAR-END

October 6, 2009 on 9:01 pm | In life coaching | No Comments

We’re nearing year-end.  You’re busy with calculating fourth quarter results, finishing projects before everyone heads out on their holidays, and solidifying your own personal holiday plans.  As you sprint to the year-end finish, use these tips to maintain your focus:

Update your calendar.  Ask for the time off you need.  Put deadlines for both personal and professional projects in the same calendar so you can identify overlaps.  Put social and professional appointments in the same place to avoid double-booking.  Don’t forget children’s winter concerts, year-end school conferences, and doctor’s appointments you need before your health spending account closes for the year.

Pace yourself.  We have 3 months to go till year-end, but four to six weeks before the holiday parties start.  Remember to budget time for cards and shopping.  Divide your list by four and do an equal amount each week to keep it manageable.  On the work front, you can expect a slowdown before the holidays so make sure that you get what you need on collaborative projects well before mid-December.  Use your slow time to reorganize your office, catch up on filing, and complete other low urgency but useful projects to get a jump on 2008.  Identify those projects now and put them in your calendar for the remaining weeks.

Keep your perspective.  It’s not just about surviving 2009, but also thriving in 2010.  Take time to reflect:  how do you want 2008 to be different?  Take time to plan:  block out self-care appointments on your 2008 calendar now (doctor’s appointments, vacations, days for yourself alone).  Take time to enjoy:  how was 2007 a good year?  Remember what worked and build on that for next year.