I LOVE October!
It’s My Birthday Month AND the Start of Q4
It’s My Birthday Month AND the Start of Q4
Day 5 of my 31-day October Medium Writing Goal
Yes, there are many reasons for me to love October: the #1 reason is that my birthday comes near the end of this month! #ScorpiosRule!
Also, October is the first full month of the fall season here in the Northern Hemisphere. The colors of nature are beautiful, it’s the harvest season, and the weather is usually not too hot and not too cold. Here in the US, it’s also football season and it’s time for the baseball championship games. We know that winter is coming, so we start preparing for it in October.
October is also the beginning of the three-month holiday season and the beginning of the 4th business quarter of the year. When you mix the craziness of the holidays and the importance of the 4th quarter, you have to take care not to get overwhelmed and ensure that you stay motivated and on track for your year-end goals.
Happy Monday!
Happiness is a Choicepamelahilliardowens.medium.com
The 5 Ways to Stay Focused During the Holidays
There is a saying: “The best time to plant a tree was 100 years ago. The second best time is today.” Actually, the best time to complete your 4th quarter planning was last week at the end of September and Q3, but if you didn’t, the second-best time to plan for Q4 is now. Today.
As you complete and/or review your personal and business plans for October through December, here are five recommendations to help you successfully navigate this often stressful but always gratifying time of year:
Create your to-do lists and prioritize your tasks and activities. Get everything out of your head and into your analog or digital planning and task management system. Once you can see everything written down in one place, it will be much easier to decide what is more important and what is less important.
If at all possible, schedule a few PTO (Personal Time Off) days in addition to any holidays you already will not be working. Entrepreneurs often especially have trouble taking time off, but giving yourself a chance to really refresh and recharge yourself will yield positive results for the time you are working.
Leave your work at work. Whether you WFH (Work From Home) or work in another location, decide on a non-negotiable daily quitting time and stick to it. It’s much easier to dispel distractions when you know that you have to finish things on your daily list by the end of your workday. When it’s time to stop for the day, take the time to plan for the next day, clear your desk, close the door (literally or figuratively), and leave.
Focus on “work” when you’re at work and focus on “home” when you’re at home. It is so easy to try to multi-task and mix personal tasks (like online shopping) with work activities (like virtual conference calls). It has been proven: multi-tasking does not work. You will actually get more done and even better and more productive if you commit to doing one thing at a time.
Take care of yourself mentally and physically. It is so easy to get overly stressed, to eat too much sugar- and carb-filled holiday treats, and to make excuses to skip your exercise and/or workout times. Without giving up those special holiday foods you love and look forward to, try to remember that moderation is the key. When you remember to make time for exercise, you’ll feel better and stronger and you’ll be able to tackle everything else you have to do with a clear mind and body.
One Holiday at a Time
Let’s Enjoy, Not Conflate, Our Holidayspamelahilliardowens.medium.com
The holiday season and 4th quarter both start in October, and both can be either a joyful time or a set of horrible experiences. To make this time of year the best it can be for you personally and professionally, it is important that you do careful and comprehensive planning and manage the expectations of yourself and of others. You can do this!
Have an October that is as beautiful as the fall colors.
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Well, that’s it for today. I hope to see you again tomorrow!