5 point checklist to help you wind down your business for the end of the year!

5 point checklist to help you wind down your business for the end of the year!

Christmas is nearly here, and I am sure that many of you are looking forward to having some down time and relaxing. It has been a long year, however just before you start to wind down its always a good idea to clear your head and quickly assess tasks that are still outstanding.

If you can action the following pointers you will not only help yourself to focus in the New Year, but also enjoy your time off.

So how do you get yourself ready for the end of the year?

1. Sort out your thoughts:

Take 15 minutes and write whatever thoughts and actions are still circling around in your head. To begin with, just write them all down, one after another. This will allow you to keep your thoughts flowing. Once you have your list you can then prioritise, giving each action a 1, 2 or 3. Your 1’s should be the tasks that are of most importance, think: what on my list will help me bring in more revenue? While you can’t ignore the 2’s and 3’s, you need to begin with the 1’s first thing in the morning when your energy levels are highest.

2. Erase, Put on Hold, Shrink:

  • Erase off anything on your list that is not essential. This will help you to focus only on tasks that are critical to you and your business.
  • If you are running out of time, understand what on your list can be put on hold for another time. Make a note of this delayed action in your calendar for 2013, so that you do not forget it completely.
  • Shrinking a task is about making it more manageable. Break giant tasks down into smaller projects and save your energy for other areas.

3. Tie up the loose ends:

See your tasks as a loose strand, if it doesn’t have a knot tied at the end, chances are it will soon unravel. If you do not start and finish tasks then you will end up spending even more time having to revisit old tasks. If you start something, make sure you are able to finish it.

4. Tidy your surroundings!:

Get rid of all the clutter on your desk and in your office. Shred all the files that need shredding and make sure that important files are filed correctly. Also involved in this task is making sure your computer is organised. Make sure you have nothing on your virtual desktop that does not need to be there, and that all electronic files are correctly filed and labelled. This should only take a few minutes, however will ensure that you will come back in the New Year ready to take on new challenges.

5. Switch Off!:

Going for a walk or simply getting out of your office is not enough. We all need time to totally relax, and this means getting out of the office, switching off our phones and closing down our computers.

This 5-point checklist will help to ensure that you come back fresh and ready for the challenges that 2013 may bring.