Dear Aunty B,
Thank you for your advice this year. Sometimes it is the only thing that has got me through a bad day!
Aunty, if I ran through the things that have happened to me and my nearest and dearest and my company this year you wouldn’t believe it. I had my GM go to a competitor and take several clients, the business suffered through less demand, my spouse got sick and had to stop work for a bit, which meant we had to put our house on the market (he’s better now), my mother was diagnosed with dementia and I am now 15 kilos overweight as I have absolutely no time to jog or swim.
Now I have to face a Christmas party and rather than make a speech celebrating, I want to put my head in my arms and cry. I feel like an emotional wreck and the other day when a client sent me a nice basket of fruit I had to run into my office and close the door so my staff didn’t see the tears streaming down my face.
How do I get through the next week? I am waking up at 4am in a state of panic. Will I feel better next year because I can’t go through another year like this?
Di,
Vic
Dear Di,
Of course you will feel better next year. And here is why:
First you are going to spend the next week sleeping in. That’s right. Tell your staff whatever you like but you are going to sleep until 9am and get to the office late. And the reason you are going to sleep in is because you are tired from the exercise you are going to do every day. You are also going to eat well, take some vitamins and drink less. Cancel any functions that are not absolutely essential: you must put yourself first for the next few weeks.
Second, all you are going to do at the Christmas party is say five lines: “Dear staff, thank you so much for a great contribution in a difficult year and to get very specific about what a great year it has been I am going to ask all of you to describe a few key wins and what you got out of the year.”
By the end of that you are going to feel so inspired and touched that you stand up at the end, clutch your heart, say you are too overcome to speak, thank everyone again and sit down.
Then you are going to have a holiday and recharge the burnt out batteries. Next year is going to be much better than this year. You are going to continue to exercise, lose the weight, eat good food and face the future with a clear head and strong body.
Your spouse is better, your mum’s care will be underway and your Christmas Party will be behind you!
And this is your New Year’s resolution: make a timetable of exercise time. Decide this is your priority because with that you will sleep better, be less stressed, fitter and able to take the day-to-day pressure better. Just make that one resolution and I guarantee you will have a better year.
Now I am off to gym.
Good luck!
Your Aunty B
To read more Aunty B advice, click here.
Smart Company is a sister publication to The Mandarin, catering to Australia’s entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners and business managers.
