What does Christmas Time mean to you?
Santa or Stress? Motivation or Misery? Presents or Pressure?
Here are 3 tips to using your limited time and help you make this the Best Christmas Ever.
Tip 1 Play Scrooge
Your time is precious and you will be under greater pressure this month.
- Less workplace days due to holidays
- Colleagues taking extra holiday
- End of Year Accounts or Sales Targets to complete.
There will also be the pressures at home in preparing for the festive season.
So, you should make a positive stand to limit your stress and anxiety by hoarding your time and dispensing it appropriately. Allocate your time to things that need doing this month. Re-schedule anything that does not meet this criteria.
Rather than spending a lot of time searching and buying and then writing and then posting cards to people, that will undoubtedly have plenty of cards anyway, send them an email card or tell them, “no cards this year your money will go to charity”. Spend what time you have getting good ones for your close friends and family.
Tip 2 Find Your Cinderella
One of the most popular versions of Cinderella was written in French by Charles Perrault in 1697, under the name Cendrillon. The popularity of his tale was due to his additions to the story, including the pumpkin, the fairy-godmother and the introduction of glass slippers.(University of Pittsburgh)
For the new Cinderella film this year, famous shoe designers were asked to create a real glass slipper of which Sandra Choi, Creative Director at Jimmy Choo said,
“I think every girl desires a Cinderella moment in their lives. This story ignites a love affair and fascination with shoes that never dies. The power they have to transform is instilled from a young age and the fantasy remains alive forever. I wanted to create a shoe that felt magical, with alluring sparkle and a feminine, timeless silhouette evoking those childhood emotions.”
I am sure you appreciate that wonderful feeling when someone thanks you for your help and support. So be proactive and find your Cinderella. Find someone who is either less fortunate than you are and make an effort to bring some pleasure into their life. Find someone who has a dream they cannot fulfil or a wish they cannot complete, see if you can help them achieve it.
“What I have found is exceptional leaders lead with gratitude” (Coopers & Sawaf)
I will be covering the subject of gratitude and positive psychology in later blog post and my book. In the meantime just trust me, being grateful for what you have is a positive thing. You know what its like to receive gratitude, giving it to others is a good feeling and makes good use of your time too.
Tip 3 Copy Father Christmas
Do you realise that Father Christmas delivers millions of gifts in just 24 hours! A fantastic achievement that productivity experts have tried to emulate since the word became popular (circa 1900).
Clearly he does not do it all on is own. He has a team of reindeers who work with him. So don’t try and do it all yourself, work with your colleagues to ensure everyone has a good Christmas break.
You will also notice that he smiles a lot.
“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do”. Mother Teresa
If you try and maintain a smile and jolly atmosphere then it will help you feel better and make your colleagues feel good to.
“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles”.
William Hazlitt (BrainyQuote)
Finally, remember you are a gift to your family and friends, so make sure you spend time with them, and that they enjoy that time too.
Summary
Three tips that you can do that will make a difference this Christmas.
- Play Scrooge with your time
- Find a Cinderella you can help
- Copy Father Christmas and smile
It will not only make a difference to your family, friends and work colleagues but, just as important, it will help you to avoid the stresses and strains associated with Christmas.
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Have a lovely Christmas.
Best Wishes
Trevor
The Art of Making Work Fit the Time you want to give it.
The 21st Century alternative to Time Management