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Manage Work/Life Stress During the Holidays
Featured Author:
Todd Wheeler, President and CEO
Todd Wheeler is the founder and president of Concierge Colorado and Hospital Concierge of America. For over 20 years he has been a successful entrepreneur in many sectors of the service industry. In the 1990’s he operated an international management consulting firm specializing in organizational development and growth for mid-size and large organizations.
At the present time Hospital Concierge of America and Concierge Colorado provides concierge consulting services and concierge programs to hospitals as retention and recruitment tools. These concierge programs have been noted by both hospital administration and staff as “indispensable”, “extremely professional”, “world-class” and “life savers”.
After developing and utilizing web based concierge management technology to run the concierge business for the last 6 years, Concierge Colorado is now offering consulting services, training and the most powerful Customer Relationship Management tools for hospital concierge and small businesses.
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Todd Wheeler, Concierge Resource
Denver, Colo. – With the holidays upon us, already stressful times become even more challenging. The headlines scream of economic downfall, corporate giants crumbling, jobs balancing on a thread, and expectations of Norman Rockwell holiday bliss cause great stress for even the most balanced individuals.
Concierge Resource, a life management firm providing on-site and virtual assistance to employees of hospitals and corporations, offers suggestions on managing stress between work and home during the holidays:
1. Set realistic goals – What can you actually accomplish right now? For instance, if a project depends on reaching clients, can you get through right now? Holiday and vacation schedules can make reaching clients challenging. Focus on getting done what is within your control, and, if you can, put off what you need others to help with.
2. Set up an organization plan – What needs to be done first, second, third? By organizing your goals into a plan, you have more control over the timing and the involvement of others to get things accomplished.
3. Break big projects into smaller tasks – Instead of “buy holiday gifts for my staff,” get specific – consider “Buy scarves for women on my team, and gift cards for the guys.” Also don’t wander the mall, go with a specific purpose or item(s) in mind.
4. Keep track of finances – set up a system to track spending. Times are stressful enough without worrying that you could be breaking the budget. Even a shoebox just for receipts is better than shoving them into a mass of mail, receipts and papers. Set time aside once a week to tally the expenses to ensure you’re on track with your budget.
5. Ask for help – Instead of taking everything on yourself, who can you enlist to help? How about asking your spouse to shop for their side of the family, and you take care of yours? Can your babysitter help a few extra hours a week? With many looking to earn extra cash this holiday season, it is not hard to find an extra set of hands. Maybe your employer can bring in assistance to help manage the stress level at the office?
6. Put off until tomorrow, what you can – Ask yourself, “Do I really need to do this today?” Some things we consider priorities can in fact be delayed until our plates are not as full.
7. Let technology be your friend – Use your PDA to track receipts, checklists, and key projects. Set up a spreadsheet to track projects and timelines on your home and work computer, so you always know where you stand with important projects. Let your voice mail answer when you need a break. Unless it’s critical or a life or death situation, it can likely wait.
8. Find time for yourself – Take time to reward yourself with grown up “time out” during the day. A walk around the block, leafing through magazines at the bookstore, a quiet cup of tea in the evening can bring the stress level into check when things feel overwhelming. It’s ok to take a break and refuel your energy.
9. Show appreciation – When you are feeling stressed and so is everyone else around you, the little things make a big difference. Saying “thank you” when someone holds the door open, treats you well in a store or gives you the last of a particular item, saying thank you is a small thing you can do be appreciative and to bring the stress level down. Eye contact and smiling is also a nice way to show that we’re all in this together!
10. Give to others – In every city, there are many non-profit agencies. In a bad economy, charitable giving gets even tougher. Find time to give to others in need and you will not only help fill their coffers, but your heart as well. Oftentimes a gift of less than $10, can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
There are many things that you can do to ease your stress and improve the lives of others. These are just a few. Be creative and be kind to yourselves, take things as they come and take it easy on yourself this holiday season. If you are happier and less stressed, the people close to you will be.
About Concierge Resource
Concierge Resource life managers help clients balance the load of work and personal responsibilities. Established in 2001 in Denver, Colorado, Concierge Resource develops higher standards for delivery of on-site and remote concierge services, working with clients including Dalbey Educational Institute, Health One and Centura Hospital Systems who are doing everything they can to ensure the lowest possible stress levels for their employees. By providing this service, employees of these organizations are less distracted by the day-to-day activities on their to-do lists and are more focused.
Creating new “Standards of the Industry” methodology and promoting implementation of best practices has elevated Concierge Resource to leadership status across the US. Concierge Resource provides concierge services to employers and hospitals, and offers technology solutions and consulting services to numerous concierge companies. To learn more about Concierge Resource visit www.conciergeresource.com or call 303.295.3064.
