Seems to me that, well, this time of year is not all that different from the rest. So many opportunities to connect with family, friends, and clients, for that matter. Sure, gift giving can be challenging. Both from the 'what' question to the 'how much'. But other than that, it's just like the rest of the year. So how do we make the most of it all?
Setting clear boundaries for how you spend your mental energy is key. It takes a serious amount of self-discipline. And, for me anyway, I am still a work-in-progress. But, the mere fact that the effort is made to manage the mental energy is key. So, how do you decide what those boundaries are? Well, it's a process. I commit myself to a minimum of 6 hours a day of serious thought and effort. A mere 6 hours of focused effort to move projects forward. Now, they may not all be big steps, but they are moving in the right direction. Sure, it's a guideline. Some days are less. Some days are (gratefully!) more. But it's a boundary. The rest of the time of day is spent checking in with others on the team, contacting vendors, returning phone calls, and the always-present email.
We wrote a blog a while back about the importance of prioritizing and eating the frog. It's the same principle. Important vs Urgent and so on. However, this time of year, there is a whole other set of priorities. So, make room for them. Go to that Bar Association luncheon. Meet friends and co-workers for an after-work outing. Because these types of get togethers are important. And, sometimes, they are urgent too. Seems this time of year, more and more people prioritize meeting, in-person, in a casual setting to connect. So, add that to your list of priorities.
Now, this item is important all the time. Too often, we put this one at the bottom of the list. And, in the end, we pay for it in so many ways. There are a lot of blogs and articles out there about the importance of downtime. Not only is it critical for our well-being, but also for our happiness. So, prioritize some fun things. That can be outings done on your own or with groups. Or simply enjoying your latest book, TV program, or music. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, make sure you actually do it.
So, as the ramp up to the end of 2018 is looming, remember these principles. And, most of all, enjoy it all.