By Poornima Vijayashanker
I don’t know about you, but for me it’s getting to be that time of the year, when I’m just a tad tired and a bit worn down from all the go-go-go! Instead of heading out the door bright-eyed and with a bounce in my step, I’d rather curl up on my couch with some spicy hot chocolate and queue up some Netflix.
I have a HUGE case of the, “I just don’t wanna.”
But there’s still a lot to do! And when you’re leading a project or business, like I do, you can’t just check out. Here are some strategies I use to help me get over it.
Stick to your commitments! The hardest part of any task is getting started, because you sit there and agonize over having to do it. So I try not to overthink and I instead dive right in, because within moments I start to experience a flow like state. It’s the perfect antidote to agonizing over a task. I especially do this for events or projects I’ve committed myself to.
Don’t take on any new projects that have deadlines during the holidays. For many of us it’s hard to say no to new opportunities. If you’re plate is already piled pretty high, then it’s important to let people know that. Here’s a gentle way to say no to folks who come to you with a new project:
“Hey Person X, I think your Project Y is great, but I’m afraid I don’t have time right now to do it justice, and honestly I’ll just be holding you back. I’ve got a few things on my plate that I need to focus on and finish.”
One of the ladies, who attended BullCon in Miami with me last weekend told me she used my exact wording on a recent client, and it worked like a charm!
Delegate away! What tasks can you get off your plate, automate, or can wait until next year? I’m not condoning procrastination but we all have a tendency of taking on too much. This year I decided to host Thanksgiving at my place with family and friends. Instead of making the turkey for Thanksgiving, I hopped on over to Whole Foods, and reserved a bird for my family. A couple guests asked me if they could bring a side dish, I of course said yes! On the business side, I told my editor I was a little overwhelmed, and she’s helping me with a number of projects. And yes it’s perfectly OK to hand things over, take a break, and drink that hot chocolate!
Finally, make sure you set aside time to give into your case of “I just don’t wanna”, because if you keep experiencing it, then it means you’re starting to burn out. As much as we’d like to be creative and innovative 24/7, we can’t if we’re overloading our circuits.
I know the day after Thanksgiving, I’m just gonna give in!
Now I want to know, what do you do to get yourself over the hump? Let me know in the comments below!
