Christmas is another one of those times of the year when we mums in business can succumb to the overwhelm of doing everything and doing it perfectly. Instagram has a lot to answer for, the perfect tree, the perfect Christmas family, and those perfectly wrapped presents. But guys, this is not real life!
*Jump To Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe*
How To Balance Business with Family Time This Christmas:
The Perfect Tree: For me, the perfect Christmas Tree is one that the children decorate whilst I drink gin and holla a few directions! I love a tree that looks like Christmas vomited on it!! Christmas Tree World gifted us a 6ft Ultra Devonshire Fir Pre-lit tree to make this Christmas not only special but less stressful. Let’s face it one of the worst parts of Christmas is unraveling a string of lights, trying in vain to work out which bulbs are blown! Add the never-ending pieces to attach in the right slots it takes the fun out of putting the tree up. We opted for a pre-lit tree that not only has two variations of white light or warm white (warm white is much brighter than white), a combination and fast or slow twinkling. And the best bit of all the tree comes in 3 sections, that’s right folks 3 sections! David has this up in record time and the girls go crazy decorating. The quality of this tree is amazing, being as David is a bit of a nemophilist or “tree geek” he gave it a thorough inspection beforehand. The realistic look is down to a mix of high-quality PE and traditional PVC tips.
Step Away From Technology This Christmas:
- #ShareLessEnjoyMore: Remember Christmas is for you, not the world! Enjoy spending quality time phoneless and in the moment with your family.
- Schedule Your Social Media: Psst, I’ve scheduled mine using pictures from last year I bet you wouldn’t even have noticed. Doing this;
Frees up headspace 
Frees up time 
Keeps your content consistent Work smarter – not harderHere are some of my tips grab a calendar for December and start filling in; Content awareness days (Christmas Jumper Day, Hot Chocolate Day) Seasonal dates (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year) Personal days (birthdays, school holidays) Split your content 20% sales / 80% other stuff Look at your Facebook memories do you have some great content to reshare? Break down blog posts ie. 5 Tried And Tested Wedding Hacks To Save Money each hack = one Facebook post so this blog can run over 5 days randomly or in a row up to you Use the scheduling facility on the platform it has a better reach Value added content – don’t have any content relevant to Boxing Day use my DIY office storage made using old boxes and fabric sharing other people’s content also helps to grow your audience - Put On An Email Autoresponder: Ensure you’re using the 4D technique so you aren’t inclined to get lost or overwhelmed by your inbox.
- Take Time To Recoup: EVERYONE takes time off for Christmas. There is literally no better time to slow down and switch off and let your scheduled content work its magic.
For the whole two weeks of Christmas 2017, Charlie was ill, not a little bit ill really ill. Meaning we didn’t really leave the house much and it was brilliant! Now, this is a staple part of our Christmas activities, enjoying long walks in the forest followed by slow cooker hot chocolate, an abundance of Christmas movies, and crafts.
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe:
This recipe is not for the faint-hearted or those on a diet but my children LOVE it! I usually pop it on before a walk so by the time we get back chilled to the bone it’s waiting ready to warm us up. Christmas film in the background is not optional.
Ingredients:
Last, of all enjoy yourself! Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
(Sorry if the hot chocolate makes you fat!)
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I’m a massive fan of lists, and I always check it twice 🙂 I would never be organised for Christmas otherwise.
Sounds like you’ve got Christmas wrapped up (excuse the pun) and that hot choc sounds GOOOOOD!
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It’s so good but literally a heart attack in a mug!
I agree about the tree! I’m such a neat tidy everything in its place person but the tree is the one time I let that go. The kids decorate it however they like. I have such great childhood memories of decorating our multicoloured mis matched tree.
My husband and I both just started businesses. It’s exciting to see them grow and develop. I’ve learned with my blog to schedule all the posts in advance. Most of mine are detailed and time consuming, so it’s less pressure if I know I have 6 weeks of posts done.
I try and make a point of doing all the holiday stuff first so I don’t have to worry about it.
Great ideas – I definitely find it’s a lot to juggle at this time of year. Absolutely love the slow cooker hot chocolate recipe – will be trying it this weekend, sounds yummy
Some lovely ideas here to keep that balance right, thank you
I always feel guilty for taking time off work. Oops. I love a list though haha. I have lists for lists!
I find it a good idea to have a few draft posts ready for January, so I won’t be tempted to work over Christmas
Anne Fraser recently posted..Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Staple Hill
100% agree! I always book between 22nd Dec – 4th Jan off each year to make sure I have time to switch off from work, enjoy all the festivities, have time to visit family and friends, and also celebrate my husband’s birthday which is early January 🙂
Great post – love all the tips! I always have alllllll the lists at Christmas haha! Wish I was organised enough to schedule my social media, never happens but oh well! x
Definitely agree with taking time away from work especially when you’re self employed and in a business where work is just never ending we have to set our own boundaries and just stop. So I won’t feel guilty about taking a day off and taking the kids to see reindeers instead – after all they are only this age at Christmas once!
Also, I want to try that slow cooker hot chocolate
There are some great ideas here. It’s all in the planning ahead and delegation!!
These are great – I really need to be organised and have everything switched off/autoreply on early this year because I really, really need a break! That hot chocolate sounds amazing! I keep meaning to make hot chocolate in the slow cooker xx
Louise Hegarty recently posted..11 Websites & Tools I Use When Starting a Blog
Oooh this recipe sounds incredible! Love the added scoop of chocolate spread! A bit more chocolate for good measure. Haha. This is great though. I’ve already started slowing down for Christmas. I’ve got quite a bit going on outside of work at the moment so I’ve started winding down a bit earlier. X
It can be such a crazy time of the year, but you have some great ideas 🙂 I have to try out the delicious recipe!
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Stepping away from technology is a BIG weakness of mine! Thanks for sharing ❤