It’s that time of year again: The Holiday Season. To many, the holidays signal a joyous and care-free atmosphere… a time when you can focus on spending time with family and friends, eating good food, and enjoying a much needed break from the grind.

But as practice owners and business owners, the holiday season is never completely worry-free… and it almost certainly always means two things:

1) Our patient volume is going to go down as people begin to take off for vacation, and;

2) Our stress is going to go up as we try to stay ahead moving into the new year.

If this sounds like you and you’re feeling a little anxious right now, know that you’re definitely not alone. Thousands of practice owners (including myself) deal with these same anxieties every year.

But it’s time to reframe things this holiday season!  Here’s 3 tips for getting out of your “bah humbug” head and into the holiday spirit:

1) Reflect on Your Year

Take some time to reflect on the past year. Note that reflection isn’t about beating yourself up and seeing what you need to do better, but rather rejoicing on the progress you’ve made this year and the good things that have happened. This self-compassion can go a long in way in helping to raise your energy and your mood.

2) Practice More Self Care.

Really take care of yourself during this time. It’s easy to get yourself in a downward spiral of constant worry and anxiety, but you need to take care of yourself. Whether it’s getting more exercise, finding time to meditate or making sure you get enough sleep, self-care can go a long way in helping you to function at your best and avoid burnout in the year ahead.

Journaling can also help to get thoughts out of your own head and can serve as a great way to manage the stress you already have.

3) Look Ahead to Next Year.

And finally, take some time to look ahead to next year. It’s 2020. It’s going to be a great year for you.

Jot down your goals and vision for the year.  What is it that you want in 2020? What does Q1 look like?

At Practice Freedom U, we use 90-day sprints to take ambitious, game-changing goals and break them down into meaningful, manageable tasks. Instead of worrying about how to get from A to Z, a 90-day plan will take you one step at a time from A to B to C.

These are just a few things to get out of your head and into action and maybe reduce some of that stress that you’re feeling right now and you’re going to be feeling as the holidays come closer.

What’s your favorites anti-stress strategy? I’d love to know…. leave yours in the comments below!

By Jamey Schrier
PT, Founder & CEO, Practice Freedom U

December 19, 2019

4 minute read