Keeping track of inventory, prepping orders to ship, listing items, photographing products and vending at local markets can be overwhelming as get into the holiday season. Whether this is your 10th holiday season for your craft business or your first, it's always good to be prepared!
If you find yourself saying yes to things you should have said no to, staying up till late o'clock working on orders and forgetting to eat meals during the holiday craziness, it's time to set some boundaries and take care of yourself! Try out the following tips to help you stay mentally and physically sane during the holiday season while running your craft business.
How much inventory are you going to make?
Even if you sell out of certain products or all your products (yay!) during the holidays, you don’t HAVE to make inventory! Decide ahead of time how much inventory you're going to make and sell for the holidays.
If making more inventory won't be super time consuming and take up your weekends and evenings and you have the energy, then by all means do it!
But if making more inventory is going to take too long, burn you out or cut into your holiday plans, don’t do it. Weigh the pros and cons of making more inventory beyond the financial cost and don't commit yourself!
Make your shipping deadlines realistic
Every holiday season, there’s always a chance that an order you ship out will get delayed in transit to the recipient or worse, get lost in the mail. While no one likes dealing with an unhappy customer.
Review your shipping policies and be realistic about when you’re going to stop accepting and shipping orders. Even consider being conservative with your cut-off date too, just in case!
If you ship internationally normally throughout the year and the thought of dealing with longer delays and customs sounds like a nightmare to you, don’t be afraid to refrain from shipping outside the country for the holidays. Do what’s best for your sanity and your business.
Take care of yourself
If you don't put yourself first and take care of your physical and mental well-being on a daily basis, you're going to be running your business on fumes during a busy time of the year which is not a good thing.
- Set a time to stop working, preferably not right when you're going to sleep. Allow yourself time to eat dinner and relax in the evening.
- Take breaks and take them often. Use a timer if you need help in taking breaks! I know it can be hard when you’re in the flow, but a 5-10 minute break is great for getting a snack, stretching, taking a bio break, etc.
- Get outside! Whether it’s going on a walk outside during a break or taking your lunch outside to get some fresh air, it can be a good way to feel more energized and refreshed!
- Power down your screens! I know this is hard for many, but powering down your TV, computer and tucking away your phone 1-2 hours before hitting the hay can really help you get your Zzzz's in.
- Do a relaxing activity (read, meditate, stretch, do yoga, listen to relaxing music, journal, etc.) when you’re done with your work for the day and before bed. This will help signal your brain and body that it’s time to get out of “work” mode and relax.
- Stick to a set bedtime and wake time, even on weekends. I know this can be difficult, but it can help a lot with the quality of your sleep. Waking up and going to bed at different times can be difficult on your body and can impact your energy and focus. So do your best to stick to a good bedtime and reasonable wake-up time.
Plan your meals and snacks
When people think of the holiday season, food is something that comes to mind. It can be hard to stay on track with eating when you're tired or don't have the time, especially after a long day. If you know you're going to have a busy week, try to have some easy throw-together meals and snacks on hand to keep you fueled during the day.
Having foods that don’t take long to heat up or can be eaten cold can be a lifesaver whether you’re breaking for lunch or don't have the energy to cook at the end of the day. Yes, you may need to prep ahead of time, but doing so will pay off for you during the week.
And don’t forget snacks!!!
Lastly, you can always say no
The holidays can often be a time where we say yes to things we really want to say no to. Why? Because saying no could mean disappointing someone one, missing out on a business opportunities or losing out on a potential sale.
Be aware of what things you’re saying yes to. Whatever you're saying yes to, you're saying no to something else. Make sure you feel good about saying yes and don't hesitate to set boundaries!
What’s 1 thing you do or plan on doing to help you get through the holidays for your business? Leave a comment below!