We’re heading into the holiday season which means that for many of us…
It’s PEAK BUSINESS TIME.
Yes!
So let’s think about this here for a minute…
What happens when:
A) you’re stressed
B) you’re suuuuuuper busy
And C) there’s more delicious treats around than usual?
Yep, you guessed it… your wellness routine falls off the track SOOOO FAST!
I tell you this so you don’t feel alone… or guilty.
It happens to me once in a while, too…
Although now it’s way less common than it used to be… before I had a solid plan in place.
Here’s the magic trick that keeps my wellness routine on track --
Even during the season of cookies, candy, and longer hours than usual…
The secret is…
I LIKE my wellness routine!
I purposely created a routine that I ENJOY…
...so I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself or missing out on any of the good stuff.
And, because I’ve been a Health Coach for so long, I’ve had A LOT of practice trying out ideas and trends…
Yes, even all the fads…
So I’ve been able to identify the core practices and hacks that work best for ME.
Because, lemme tell ya… there are certain things that, if I don’t do them…
Oh man do I pay the price!
Which means I’m off my biz game, my mom game, my wife game… my HAYLEY game. HAHA
And that feels AWFUL.
So today I thought I’d share three of my go-to wellness practices I call on when work is SUPER BUSY…
...and offer you some ways to try them out, too…
Kinda like a “Try this instead of that” format.
And, at the end of this episode, I’m giving you a free download you can swipe that has 5 MORE simple habits to help you get through the busy holiday season -- and that you can start this week!
You ready?
Ok so the first wellness tool comes from a scenario I think you might be able to relate to.
Around this time of year, meaning right in the middle of fall…
A couple weeks before Thanksgiving… I start prepping for the holiday rush in my biz.
Since I have a few different businesses, this means I get inundated with projects and year-end tasks.
Everything from an increase in doTERRA orders and new members joining my team…
To looking at financials and starting to make plans and budgets for next year…
To doing a year-end review of which of my digital programs and courses had the most impact…
And what I’d like to do (or redo) differently next year.
It’s a crazy mix of planning, reviewing, AND managing the day-to-day.
While still being Superwoman and running a household and family.
I’m sure you have a similar scenario with your biz.
Particularly if you have a brick and mortar store or a seasonal business…
...you probably know EXACTLY what it feels like to be pulled in a bunch of different directions!
So what happens to your wellness routine in this busy season?
You probably work more hours and have a more hectic pace, which means you’re more tired…
Which means you probably start to slide on two key aspects:
Exercise and diet.
Well, let me be more precise: not really DIET, like watching your weight, but more like NUTRITION.
I’ve found that those are the first two things to go… the workouts and the healthy cooking and eating.
So I make sure that I prioritize exercise when work picks up.
That’s hack #1 in my wellness routine that keeps me balanced while running my biz.
Daily movement is KEY for me.
I kinda look at it like my engine oil… it’s what keeps everything moving for me.
Internally and externally, haha.
On the days when I DON’T get a good workout or movement practice in…
Man, I just feel STUCK!
Like my brain can’t process anything right…
And my body feels achy… and I just feel…
YUCK, you know?
Even my digestive system doesn’t work as well. Is that TMI?
So I make sure I get at least 30-60 minutes of exercise each day.
Whether that’s a Pilates class or some at-home yoga or a jog around the neighborhood…
I BOOK IT INTO MY SCHEDULE.
And I honor that commitment to myself.
Treating it just as importantly as a team meeting….
Or a client call…
Or some other business task I would think of as a top priority.
For years I struggled with this…
Saying to myself “I’ll just skip class today because I really want to get this spreadsheet done.”
Or “I need to get these essential oils labeled.”
So bad.
Would you bail out on a customer or a client appointment because you wanted to get a spreadsheet finished or essential oils labeled?
No way, right!?
So I treat myself like my own client… by prioritizing exercise as a key business tactic.
Because when you are your own boss…
Or you hold a major leadership role for your job…
...there’s no greater asset than yourself.
So here’s your ‘DO THIS INSTEAD OF THAT’ TIP…
Instead of treating yourself like you’re second best…
Treat yourself like you would a client.
Which means prioritizing your exercise… or healthy food prep (or cooking, if that’s your thing)… or whatever it is that keeps all your systems moving.
Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox here about this and get to the second wellness tool I use to stay balanced when I’m running my biz in the crazy crazy holiday season.
And that’s essential oils!
So, I know that many of you listening to this podcast are also in the doTERRA biz…
And I thought I’d share a little bit of how I got into essential oils.
Because I used to be a yoga and Pilates instructor, I was in the perfect world for essential oils to be part of my journey.
I got into them as a user around the time I decided to start working for myself.
And the two main challenges I was having at that time were focus and productivity.
Making the switch from working for someone else...
...to working for yourself sounds amazing…
And it is…
But it also requires a lot of discipline!
What I found was that essential oils like Rosemary and Lemon were really helpful for me in buckling down and doing the work… when no one was watching.
Because it’s super easy to cheat yourself, right?
Kinda like that earlier example… when I worked for someone else, I would NEVER think about blowing off a commitment or deadline…
But in the early days of starting my biz…
OH MAN was that easy to do!
Because I wasn’t being watched and I was only accountable to myself.
Even when I had a TON OF SHIZ TO DO!
I’d procrastinate…
...stare at my computer screen...
...struggle with what to write…
...and put off simple tasks -- like pressing a few buttons to run a report! --
Because I just couldn’t get into it.
That’s where essential oils came in to save the day.
Rosemary, Lemon, and Spearmint really help me with focus.
My two favorite ways to use them are in a diffuser near my desk in my office. And yes, you can blend them all together.
And I also like to use it as a roll-on, especially if I’m on the go and not at my desk for very long.
So on those hectic days where you stare at your screen or find ANYTHING ELSE to do besides sit down and actually get shiz done?
Instead of sitting there pretending to work and then beating yourself up about it or stressing out…
Try essential oils when you feel that mental fog creeps in.
Find something that smells good to you and gives you a boost of energy and focus.
Now, the third wellness tactic I call upon to get through the crazy seasons in my biz… and my life…
Is rest.
Specifically MENTAL rest.
Because no matter how physically drained I am at the end of the day…
When work is really busy… and I have a lot on my mind…
My brain somehow misses the memo that I’m tired.
It’s still chugging along, processing information from the day…
...thinking about what’s coming up tomorrow… recalling little details and moments…
Spinning spinning spinning.
While this still happens sometimes, I’ve found a hack that works for me and I think it can work for you too.
Now, this hack is kinda personal.
In that, some people have a resistance to it or beliefs about it that may not even be true.
The wellness hack I’m talking about is meditation.
Meditation is a super popular topic these days but many times I hear busy women say “Oh I can’t meditate… I can’t turn my mind off….” or “I can’t sit still that long.”
What if I were to tell you that’s not the point?
Meditation isn’t about reaching a goal.
It’s not a win/lose proposition.
It’s about giving yourself a chance to relax… physically and mentally… creating a little whitespace in your day.
AND there are many kinds of meditation out there!
So if sitting in lotus pose in silence for 20-30 minutes isn’t your thing…
Maybe listening to a guided meditation is…
Or breathing exercises…
Or a moving meditation, like taking a walk somewhere quiet and just being with yourself?
Or doing a simple body scan… where you sit quietly and bring awareness to the different areas of your body one at a time.
You can even do that one in bed!
So if you’re finding yourself wrapping up your workday with your mind still buzzing…
...I’d like to suggest you try a version of meditation that works for you.
There are SO many apps out there these days…
...and almost all of them have some sort of free trial or free version…
Or you can find meditations for free on YouTube.
There are countless sources and ways to meditate…
….so instead of lying in bed feeling exhausted with your mind still swirling…
...or reaching for medications that put you to sleep but don’t really give you REST…
Try out some form of meditation or progressive relaxation techniques in the evening before you go to bed.
Because I want to remind you…
The performance of your business is directly tied to your personal performance.
They are completely linked!
And as we head into a busy holiday season, many of us tend to slide in our wellness routines because we seem to forget this fact!
Right?!
So, let’s do a quick recap to close out today’s episode and then I’ll give you that freebie I mentioned at the top of the show…
Alright, so to stay on top of your game in your biz AND your life…
...You need to create a wellness routine that you actually ENJOY…
So it doesn’t feel like a hassle and it actually supports you getting through the crazy busy holidays.
The first one I recommend is prioritizing daily movement.
Putting your health first… and yes that includes exercise... isn’t selfish.
In fact, it’s the motor oil to your body’s engine.
So instead of putting yourself last, treat yourself like you would a client and honor the time you commit toward self-care.
Second, I shared a tip about using essential oils for focus and clarity.
On those days when you’re struggling to get things done, instead of continuing to procrastinate and then stressing out about it or feeling guilty…
Try an essential oil or blend that wakes you up and brings you energy, like a citrus scent or mint.
And finally, I talked about creating whitespace in your day, so you can unwind before you get to bed.
Because your mind often doesn’t get the same “I’m tired!” memo that your body does…
...which can lead to swirling thoughts that keep you up and impact your performance the next day.
So instead of lying there checking the clock to see how much longer you have to POSSIBLY sleep before your alarm goes off…
...try some sort of meditation or conscious relaxation technique in the pre-bedtime hours.
Now, for that freebie I mentioned, it’s 5 simple habits that can be included in your routine starting TODAY.
And they don’t take a lot of time and best of all, everything on the list is absolutely free and easy to do.
So you don’t have to buy anything, order anything, or schedule anything…
It’s just small tweaks to your existing routine that can help you create a self-care plan that works for you.
So you can be at your best every day… especially as we head into the end of the year.
The number 5 then “simple habits.”
I’ll also include the link in today’s show notes and the newsletter.
I think I’ll share it on social this week, too, so if you haven’t joined me there yet…
You can just search Hayley Hobson on both Instagram and Facebook and you’ll find me!
Just make sure you use two Y’s in my first name. I spell it the old fashioned way, like Hayley Mills. Do you remember her from the original Parent Trap? That probably dates me. Anyway, it’s H.A.Y.L.E.Y.
That’s it for this week!
Thanks for being here and I’ll see ya online.