7 chapters across the catalog
Calendar Mapping for Festive Task Management
Using a physical printout of a Google Calendar helps map out specific windows for holiday chores like wrapping presents, baking mince pies, and cleaning. Visualizing the available time and space for important tasks allows for relaxation and reduces the feeling of being in a fluster.
Setting Realistic Expectations for Business Success
Setting yourself up for success requires creating plans and expectations that fit into a real-life schedule. Many business owners fail by planning for 15-hour workdays or ignoring external factors like school holidays and natural energy fluctuations.
Scheduling Time Off and Preventing Burnout
Planning for time off and school holidays first ensures that business launches do not conflict with personal breaks. This proactive approach allows for scheduling automated emails and briefing teams in advance, ensuring the business owner can actually enjoy their time away without slogging through work.
Defining Enough and Planning for Family Visits
A personal planning strategy involves creating "must-do" and "nice-to-do" lists before going on holiday or hosting visitors from abroad. By deciding ahead of time what "enough" work looks like, individuals can give themselves permission to step away from their desks and enjoy time with family without lingering professional anxiety.
Strategic Summer Planning for Solo Business Owners
Solo business owners often find taking breaks stressful due to the lack of staff to cover their absence. Implementing a rigorous planning strategy allows entrepreneurs to work less by focusing on high-impact tasks and protecting post-holiday time to handle accumulated emails without feeling overwhelmed.
Inbox Management, Scheduling Post-Holiday Catch-Up Time
Setting aside a dedicated block of time in the calendar immediately following a vacation helps alleviate the anxiety of returning to a cluttered inbox. This proactive planning removes the common excuse that one must check emails during a break to stay on top of the workload. This scheduled "tidy up" period serves as a gentle transition back into professional responsibilities.
Louise Miller's Personal Summer Planning and Must-Do Lists
Louise Miller shares her personal strategy for an upcoming holiday with Tom and a month-long visit from her sister traveling from Dubai to the UK. To prevent being glued to her desk during these events, she utilizes "must-do" and "nice-to-do" lists to categorize tasks. This proactive decision-making process allows for the completion of impactful work while granting permission to step away for leisure and family time.
