Ten tasks for the festive season

If you're expecting some downtime over the holidays and you are, like most soloists, not great at switching off, check out these ideas for making the most of your spare time.

Some businesses, mine included, slow down over December and January as our clients get caught up with Christmas and holidays and forget to spend their money with us. That leaves us with plenty of time on our hands.

My strong recommendation is that you take as much of this time for yourself as possible and whatever happens, don’t feel guilty about it. After all, taking control and having flexibility with how we spend our time is one of the biggest benefits of being a solopreneur.

If, however, you’ve done that and still have time up your sleeves, here’s my list of the top useful 10 ways to spend it.

1. Clean up your email and electronic filing system

Subfolders within subfolders within subfolders. Sound familiar? Now’s the time to design an ideal filing system and create some simplicity in your life. Try and limit your filing system to 3 levels deep and delete all that stuff you don’t need any more.

2. Read what’s in your “Reading” file

I have a reading file with all those really useful documents I downloaded and meant to read. Now’s the time. And once you’ve read them, you can file them in your newly simplified filing system!

3. Review your books

Go and have a look in your bookcase. Seriously, how long since you read some of those books? Keep the classics and the ones you refer to regularly. Then send an email to your friends/clients/relatives and offer the others for free or the cost of postage. Or take them to the local second hand book store.

4. Clear up your accounts

Scrutinise your accounts for anomalies. Debtors, creditors and those small amounts you never bothered chasing, outdated client details and contacts. Sort them out and start the year fresh.

5. Create new templates

Take the opportunity to review the things you do repeatedly and consider making a template for them. Examples include standard emails, email signatures, proposals, invoices, thank you letters and marketing letters.

6. Review and renew marketing material

Spend some time looking at your brochures, web copy, postcards and other marketing material. Does it still reflect your business accurately and send the message you want?

7. Clean up your hard copy filing system

As for your electronic filing system, hard copy systems can easily get out of hand. Throw away what’s no longer current or necessary and de-clutter the paperwork.

8. Review 2007

The end of the year is a great time to take stock of your successful and slightly less than successful endeavours. Review how you went against your plan and start to think about how to stay successful in 2008.

9. Renew lost connections

Make contact with people you haven’t spoken to in over 12 months. I find a phone call is best and even if you only get to leave a message it renews the connection and sets you up for a more serious catch up in the new year.

10. Stop working!

That’s enough now. Turn off your PC and phone and go enjoy the sunshine.

Megan Tough runs Complete Potential, a company that helps businesses solve their strategy and people problems. She loves being a solopreneur, and when she doesn't have her nose to the grindstone, is fulfilling her other passion of fitness and health.

5 comments | Add your own

This is one bit of advice I am going to follow. Thanks Megan. Grant McDuling from Brisbane, Australia
...and if I were invited to add number 11, I'd suggest "clear your desk and make your workspace look delightfully inviting for the year ahead". It can make Day One a good deal more pleasant! Robert Gerrish from Flying Solo | Read my articles
Thanks, Megan - moving into long overdue cruise mode - a Merry and Safe Xmas to all! Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
To add to #4, I would suggest if you are using MYOB Business Management software, take the next step, and contact your bank about how you can create a bank file within MYOB, and import it to your bank on-line, thus paying your bills in a one step, rather than two step process. You may find yourself an additional 10 hours a year. 10 billing hours, 10 relaxing hours, 10 hours to work on your business, rather than in it, you choose!! Heather Smith from Brisbane
Good on you Megan - all fabulous tips for getting things done in your down time!
Even though I'm a massive fan of down time, as a very organised soul, I confess I ten to use that time to 'get ahead' to make tomorrow easier. The secret to being organised is planning ahead!
But not for long: January is my busiest month, the phone will start ringing tomorrow at 9am with folk from all over who need me to deal with their chaos :-) Lissanne Oliver from Fairfield, VIC | Read my articles

5 comments | Add your own

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