Being a chamber pro can be pretty stressful, especially at year end. There’s so much to do and many members are asking for assistance. Plus, it seems like the days and weeks fly by, leaving you with very little time to accomplish everything you want to. That’s why we came up with a few tips to make the end of year a little better.
Chamber Pro Sanity Survival Tips for Year End
Use these ideas to smooth over the rough patches and last-minute hiccups of year end.
- Prioritize Tasks: Identify and prioritize the most critical tasks that only you can do. (And don’t put everything in that category! You can delegate something.) Focus on completing high-priority projects first to alleviate stress.
- Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable year-end goals with the remainder of the time and the staff you have. Don’t assume things will slow down at Christmas. Once you set those goals for the final days, say no when you don’t have time for the additional projects.
- Practice Time Management: Manage your time by creating a schedule or to-do list. Allocate specific time slots for various tasks to stay organized.
- Delegate Responsibilities: Distribute tasks among team members or volunteers to lighten the workload. Delegating responsibilities ensures that everyone plays a role in achieving year-end objectives.
- Communicate: Maintain open lines of communication with members, volunteers, and stakeholders. Clearly communicate expectations, deadlines, and progress updates to foster collaboration and reduce misunderstandings.
- Celebrate Achievements and Efforts: Take time to acknowledge and celebrate milestones and this year’s achievements. Recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of your team. Consider organizing a year-end celebration, thank you luncheon, or team-building activity to foster a positive and collaborative work environment. Even if you don’t feel like you have time, positive reinforcement and appreciation can boost morale and motivation during the stressful year-end period.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Prioritize self-care to maintain mental and physical well-being. Incorporate breaks, exercise, and relaxation techniques into your routine to combat stress and maintain focus.
- Plan for the New Year: Set clear objectives and construct a roadmap for the next year to help provide a sense of direction so you can begin strong too. Additionally, if you need a little break, the fun in planning one (mentally) can provide some of the same relaxation you get from actually taking the trip.
- Seek Support: Don't hesitate to seek support from colleagues, mentors, or professionals in your network. Sharing experiences and seeking advice can provide valuable insights and a fresh perspective. Chamber pros are some of the most supportive people in the world.
- Reflect and Learn: Take some time for personal and professional reflection. Identify lessons learned and areas for improvement, helping you approach the new year with a more informed mindset. Sometimes year-end reviews can be exhausting so vow that next year you will write milestones and achievements down as they are happening. Use a journal or a desk calendar and make a quick note as things happen so next year’s end-of-year reflection is a smooth one.
- Use Mindful Breaks: Incorporate short breaks to clear your mind. Take a quick walk. Listen to your favorite song. Stretch. These breaks can enhance focus, reduce stress, and contribute to overall well-being.
- Laugh. A good laugh can release stress as well as endorphins, making you feel better. Watch a favorite comedy or check out a comedian’s performance. Don’t have time for that? Give your brain a rest with the following interesting (and perhaps, funny) psychology facts:
Stress Relievers - It's a Fact
- You're Not Old: Lowering the car radio volume while navigating isn’t just something old people do because they saw the previous generation do the same. It makes practical sense. Since the mind struggles to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously, lowering the volume helps you concentrate less on the music and more on finding your way.
- The Nags Have It: Contrary to previously believed info, sharing your goals with others can diminish your likelihood of success. Studies indicate a decrease in motivation when intentions are publicly announced. Your brain thinks you have it covered because you put it out there when you tell someone else. Your goal then loses its priority. Unless you tell a nag, then that person will nag you into doing whatever it is you told them you were going to do.
- Love Me Some Chocolate: Consuming chocolate triggers the release of neurotransmitters associated with heightened happiness, akin to the effects experienced when in love. If you’re having a stressful day, grab a candy bar and fall back in love with your job. Right?
- Song Sung Blue. The music you’re listening to significantly influences one's perception of the world. So, the next time you’re looking for sponsors might we suggest heavy metal?
- I Know You. The mind lacks the ability to conjure unfamiliar faces in dreams, suggesting that every dreamt individual has been encountered, even if only briefly. Let’s just say, as a chamber pro, you have dream fodder forever.
- We Are Who You Think We Are. Our actions toward others shape their beliefs about us, influencing their behavior and reinforcing our self-perceptions—a phenomenon known as the "Pygmalion Effect" or, more colloquially, "The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy." This is true for everyone but the kids in the Breakfast Club. They defied stereotypes in the end.
Seriously though, if you are ever doubting yourself, find that member who thinks you know everything about business, and you’ll be soon feeling like you do. Conversely, if you have a board member or detractor who accuses you of always making mistakes, it will alter your self-perceptions and you may find yourself making more mistakes around that person. - I’m Tired of Being Creative. Creativity tends to peak when one is fatigued. There’s a certain amount of mind wandering that is helpful when trying to be creative. Plus, we have a harder time self-editing our ideas when we’re tired. If you want to come up with more creative ideas and brainstorming, try doing it at the end of the evening and writing down everything that comes to mind without censoring it.
- The Cheese Stands Alone. Surrounding oneself with positive, joyful individuals contributes to personal happiness. If you don’t believe this to be true, find the Eeyore in your community and spend some time with them. See how you feel about yourself afterward.
- I Wrote This One. Sarcasm has been linked to heightened intelligence and creativity. Proficient sarcastic people display an enhanced interpersonal understanding. Keep this in mind when someone in a meeting is sarcastic and everyone laughs. Chances are there’s a clue of truth in that interpersonal commentary.
- But Wait. Delaying gratification is a trait associated with increased likelihood of success in life. We could tell you why, but wouldn’t you rather wait for it?
- My Brain Makes Me Tired. The brain, despite constituting only 2% of body mass, consumes approximately 20% of the body's energy, water, and oxygen intake.
- You Don’t Need an NFL Contract to Be Happy. The impact of money on happiness plateaus at an annual income of $75,000, with further increases having minimal effect, contingent on relative wealth. Don't you feel so much happier now?
- I’m Tired Even Though I Just Woke Up. Oversleeping creates increased cravings for more sleep.
- Blame (or thank) Your Parents. Having siblings has been proven to enhance one's ability to get along well with peers. You might not get along with your siblings but they’re the reason you get along with your board.
- Keep an Eye Out. When expressing happiness through tears, the initial tear typically emerges from the right eye; conversely, tears of sorrow tend to originate from the left eye. Now you know.
- It’s as Good as Mom Made. Food crafted by someone else tends to be more enjoyable than self-prepared dishes, even when following the same recipe. So, host that chamber potluck and make everyone else bring the food.
- Keep Your Mouth Shut. A single negative comment has the potential to overshadow at least five positive ones. So, before you let that one remark bring you down, remember not to give it extra weight.
- You’re Not Alone. Most people dwell more on thoughts of a specific individual than on catastrophic events. Again, don’t let someone else’s opinions get you down. Worry about the next catastrophic event instead. (I’m sorry. I couldn’t help the sarcastic gallows humor. I’m still thinking about the sarcasm fact about sarcasm being tied into intelligence.)
- Be Prepared. Studies reveal that anticipating something unfavorable happening is generally less stressful than dealing with the uncertainty of how it will ultimately unfold. This goes against all new age advice to live in the moment. Apparently, the Boy Scouts were right—be prepared.
- Get Started Now. Establishing a daily habit typically takes around 66 days for the average individual. If you have a New Year’s resolution in mind, set aside about two months to make it stick.
- Sounds Like a Plan. Individuals harboring a profound sense of guilt demonstrate heightened abilities in recognizing the emotions and concerns of those around them. So, get on Santa’s naughty list and you’ll have a higher EQ, which will then make you a better leader.
- We’ll Keep This Short. On average, an individual's mind wanders about 30% of the time, which probably means you didn’t even read this far.
Finally, we hope some of these made you laugh and took your mind off the year-end stress. But mental health isn’t a joking matter. If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, talking to someone can help, whether that’s a friend, co-worker, peer in the Chamber Pros Facebook group, family member, or a professional.
Take time to switch your focus from the demands and focus on the good you've done this year. Know that you are needed and valued by your community and those who love you, even when the Negative Nellys and Neils are louder than the Positive Pollys and Patricks.
Make a big impact on small businesses and your chamber's success by participating in Small Business Season. If your chamber is not already signed up, go to https://bit.ly/sbs-2023. You can come in at the Basic Level or the Professional Level.
Small Business Season is not just a campaign; it's a movement to support the backbone of our communities. Together, let's make this year's holiday the most prosperous yet for our local communities!
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Meet Our Authors
Hi, I'm Frank Kenny
Founder of the Chamber Pros Community
Hi, I'm Norma Davey
Founder of the Chamber Pros Community
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