The holidays can be a stressful time for small businesses. Consumers have high expectations for holiday sales and extended shopping hours, and for a lot of small businesses, the holiday can make or break their bottom line for the year.
For most, whether it’s December 1 or January 1, the pressure of running a small business is always high. So, it’s important to be able to step back and reset, especially after the rush of the holiday season. Resetting looks different for every type of business and every type of business owner. If you struggle to decompress, here are a few ways to take a step back:
- Take a few days off: this can be tough for small business owners, especially if the owner is the only employee. If the business can afford to, staying closed for a couple extra days after the holidays can give you time to relax and reset. Or maybe it’s the time you need to get some of those pesky to dos off your list, lessening your load in the weeks to come.
- Shorten your post-holiday hours: many shoppers’ are done the bulk of their work before the holidays. The biggest need is usually making returns for gifts that weren’t quite right. It’s a great time to open a bit later or close a bit earlier. (If this is something you might do, make sure your temporary hours are communicated EVERYWHERE! On your website, your social media, Google, voicemail, anywhere a consumer might look for your open hours.)
- Take a vacation: if you have enough employees to be open while you’re not physically there, after the holidays is a great time to take a vacation, even just for a few days. If you can completely disconnect, even better.
- Pamper yourself: if shortened hours or closing aren’t an option for you, carve out some time after hours for some self-care. Book the appointment you’ve been putting off or schedule in something you enjoy: a facial, massage, indoor golf round, etc. Hopefully the holidays give you a day or two off, but the hustle and bustle of hosting, big meals and get togethers can also be tiring. Make sure to take some YOU time.
- Hire extra help: when you know it’s going to be busy, as the holiday season is, it’s easy to plan for extra hands-on deck. The same holds true for the post-holiday rush. Having extra help, even for a couple weeks, can lighten the load of your business tasks and help prevent you from feeling swamped.
- Take a break: if you can’t afford to stay closed for an extra couple days or shorten the number of hours you need to work, schedule short breaks into your day. Stepping away for 10 minutes a few times throughout the day can be a quick recharge that results in feeling less tired or overwhelmed at the end of the day. Getting some exercise or outside for a walk and fresh air can provide an added boost, physically and mentally.
All of these can be difficult for small businesses, especially if profits are not where you expected or hoped they’d be, but boundaries and expectations are as important for a small business as they are for individuals. If you’re stepping away for a couple days or shortening your hours, plan ahead and be mindful of your changes when setting return dates on purchases. Most importantly, be honest with your consumers, tell them why you’re closing for a few days or shortening your open hours, a relatable, human reason gives them understanding and perspective (some will be upset no matter what, you can’t win ‘em all!).
Struggling to stay organized? Need a better way to communicate with your team? The ongoing development of technology has created many opportunities for small business efficiencies. If business software could support your business, we can help. Connect with us today to learn more!
-Paige Sandvold is a Marketing Manager at Directwest
