Oh it’s that glorious time of year again…weather is changing, trees are turning colors, and whether you’re ready or not you’re about to be bombarded with the holiday season. Here at Mail Dog, we are gearing up for our own holiday campaigns…it’s one of the busiest times of year here, and like many companies, is critical to our overall success.
Once you have all that know-how (download Holiday Boot Camp for Email Marketers webinar slides and helpful hints), some people still don’t get it all done. I mean, 8 weeks of jam-packed holiday parties, end of year deadlines, shopping, holiday dinners…(all the while keeping your marketing projects running and humming). How does anyone get it all done? Good news, we’ve come up with a few helpful tips and online resources to get you through the next two months and finish the year with a bang! You might be surprised to see that some of them approach marketing success from the inside out…holistic marketing if you will (for mind and body).
Plan & Organize Until the End of the Year
The best offense is a strong defense. Lists, lists, lists. Make your lists, check them twice, call a meeting of your employees or friends which keep you motivated and brainstorm what needs to get done by the end of the year. Don’t be afraid to delegate and enlist support where you can.
Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now. - Alan Lakein
Make a List & Stay on Schedule
Now that you’ve got your lists, you need to create a schedule (with real due dates) to ensure activities do get accomplished.
Decide on the non-negotiable things – work, flights out of town, parties for work and family, events for your children. When that’s done, take a look at any down time and fill it in with the things on your list.
Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan. - Tom Landry
- Keep Organized with an Online To-Do List
- Reclaim Your Time: 20 Great Ways to Find More Free Time
- Tips for Getting a Good Night Sleep
Stay Supercharged – Get Plenty of Rest
Everyone will be pushing you in a hundred different directions this holiday season… your mom, your significant other, your friends, your boss … especially your boss. Remember there are 8 weeks in the holiday season with dozens of responsibilities, and only one of you. Take a deep breath and learn to say ‘no’… maybe not to the boss, but to the gazillion parties, after work outings, weekend festivities. Pick out the most important ones and sleep through the rest.
Please all, and you will please none. – Aesop
Prime the Pump – Stay Fit
Like all well-oiled marketing machines, you need to stay fit! If you have an existing workout plan, stick to it. If you don’t have one, start by walking around the office on your lunch break or use the stairs rather than the elevator. Find a local yoga studio and pop in for a session. Even if you’re no yogi, you will love the sense of peace and accomplishment post session.
Exercise improves your mood, combats chronic diseases, helps you manage your weight, boosts your energy level, promotes better sleep, can be – gasp – fun. – Mayo Clinic
Use your ‘Half-Full’ Glass and Acknowledge & Celebrate Accomplishments
10 months down and only two left until this year is over. You’ve done a good job of juggling your many hats. In fact, sometimes your need to sit back and acknowledge it.
Bosses, take a moment to thank your employees for all the hard work that they have done over the year. By making them feel appreciated and worthy of recognition, they will be more likely to forget about all the stress that comes with the holiday season and stay focused on their jobs.
Employees, take a mental note of what you have accomplished and those goals you have met. We tend to forget how far we’ve come over the year until we look back and see where we’ve come from.
You get whatever accomplishment you are willing to declare. - Georgia O’Keeffe
Stick To It
Knowing what you want to do and actually doing it are two different things. Stick to your schedule and cross things off your list as you finish them, and you will keep yourself motivated during the holidays! You might even find yourself counting your blessings (and your marketing
rewards) – with different lists of course!
We can do anything we want as long as we stick to it long enough. – Helen Keller
