It’s that time of the year. You’re running around like a crazy person! Between holiday parties, family activities, Christmas shopping, and trying to package up and fulfill orders in your Etsy shop, it can all feel overwhelming. But this year, it pays to stay positive during the holidays.
We’re all in this together
We get it because our team is literally right there with you! That’s why we wanted to share a few tips to help all of us stay positive through the final weeks of 2022. Doesn’t it feel like this should be the time when we’re the most positive anyway? But often, that just isn’t the case because the reality of the holidays is that while they can be so wonderful in so many ways, there is a lot of stress that comes with being a small business owner right now. And there is a lot of stress that often comes with family being in town.
Taking a productive breather to stay positive during the holidays
This is the point where we’d tell you to be sure to take a few minutes for yourself! Grab a warm drink and step away, even if it’s just for five minutes. The other day I was perusing a local store and came across a holiday card that was brilliant! The woman on the front of the card was surrounded by mounds of Christmas gifts that she was wrapping. The message said something along the lines of her locking herself in a room to wrap all the gifts…and it taking “hours” because everyone needs a little alone time on the holidays.
I cracked up but then, it hit me that it wasn’t a bad idea! It can be extremely hard to allow yourself the time to breathe when you have so much to do. And if you’re a parent or caretaker, it can be especially hard to allow yourself time without feeling guilty. Stepping away from family and literally locking the door to wrap gifts might be the answer we need to stay positive during the holidays! So grab your favorite drink, put on some holiday music (if it doesn’t drive you crazy), and wrap a few gifts alone. And please let me know if it did the job and helped you breathe!
It’s ok to say no
I’m getting real this year because we all know we can meditate, breathe, listen to calming music and do yoga to our heart’s content and none of that will make all the craziness disappear. Will it help us deal? Absolutely.
But the reality is that if you are saying yes to everything that comes up (no matter how much you breathe and drink warm drinks) you’re still going to be stressed out. Hi, it’s me, preaching to the choir. So please, for the love of Christmas, practice saying no to just one thing that you don’t really want to do but feel obligated to do.
You don’t need to say no to everything, that’s just not realistic (don’t we wish it was, introverts?), but allowing yourself to not go to every party and event will give you the much-needed space to do something truly meaningful to you. And that is honestly the most important commitment you have.
Step away from the packaging to stay positive during the holidays
Work is SO important, I 100% get it. I’m with you on the “I have to do it all RIGHT NOW train” and usually, I have a hard time getting off that train. But, while fulfilling those shop orders is extremely important, we hope that this year you set work hours and are able to stick to them. And if you didn’t and you’re seriously in the thick of wondering why you even opened an Etsy shop to begin with — because holy Christmas this is a lot of work — we get that too.
The only way to learn is to do it wrong the first time around. So whether you’re a seasoned seller or a brand new seller, just remember that either way, stepping away from work and not working the entire holiday season is the best option for your mental health.
If this year has already been too much, consider pulling in some seasonal help next year, be that family and friends or a paid seasonal employee. Because overworking yourself isn’t fair to you or your family. So if things are crazy, take an hour here or there to watch that Christmas movie with your kids, then hit work again. And once the season is over, please have grace for yourself, no matter how it went in your shop, because you 100% have the chance to do it over and over again with each new holiday season.
Final thoughts
It’s hard for us to believe that 2022 is coming to a close. What a year it’s been! As always, our team is so very grateful you have allowed us to come along beside you and assist in helping you understand Etsy SEO. We are deeply grateful for our Marmalead community and from our team to your family, we wish you and yours and very, Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Happy selling, everyone!
