Small Business at Christmas

For anyone who runs a small business they know Christmas is a magical but a manic time of year for 98% of us.  Separating work and family for me has always been a challenge. I have four kids and sometimes I feel like This Is Nessie is my fifth child.  This challenge to separate the two entities becomes even greater at Christmas.  Usually business always comes second to the family, however at this time of year the roles reverse.  We rely on the business to support our family and therefore we need it to come first, however it can be really hard for the kids to understand.

Every year I tell myself “this year will be different” and I really believe that every year we do make it a little better.  We’re miles away from that first crazy Christmas which left us both in tears over a stack of orders with no end in sight.  This year I’ll say it again “I really do think it will be better” (although ask me this question circa 20th December and we’ll see how I’m doing then…)!

I thought, with my years of experience now running ‘Operation Small Biz at Christmas versus Family Life’, some other small business owners might find my advice helpful, and if not maybe it’ll just make you laugh so I’ve pulled together all my tips below!

NUMBER ONE: Bring down your decorations early

  • I have already brought down our Christmas decorations just so when the kids start asking, I can give them a lovely job to do and keep them busy after school.  It means when I come back from the studio one day the whole house will feel sparkly and Christmassy and the kids can show me what they’ve been up to.

NUMBER TWO: Write your Christmas Cards NOW

  • If you’re a Christmas card kinda person like me, then I’m telling you now you will not have time to do them in December so consider this your gentle reminder!  You could even go so far as putting them in their envelopes, addressing them and sticking stamps on them ready to pop in the postbox closer to Christmas.

NUMBER THREE: Do not host a Christmas Drinks party the week before Christmas

  • While other years you may treasure being the hostess with the mostess, when you’re packing orders all day trust me when I say the last thing you’ll want to do is tidy the house and prepare canapes. Even if COVID rules meant this was possible, don’t be tempted. You’ll thank me when you’re elbow deep in customer enquiries. 

NUMBER FOUR: Plan your school runs

  • Make a structure for your school runs that fits your schedule around them, particularly if you’re like me and they’re at different schools.  We are balancing the mornings between me and Mr TIN but the evenings are the trickier ones.  Luckily Jack, my eldest, can now drive and childcare is still possible so my structure is as follows:
  • Mondays – My lovely mummy helps picking up my youngest and Jack takes the boys home
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays – We have someone help to pick up the kids
  • Wednesday – I pick them up
  • Friday – Jack does the school run home

NUMBER FIVE: If you can get a cleaner or help with cooking then DO IT!

  • Whether it be ordering in meals from COOK or having someone in to help you with the house, I would really struggle making sure we are all fuelled up over Christmas without help.  We have a wonderful lady who comes and does all our washing, cleaning and a little cooking meaning we have homemade soup on tap and some evening meals sorted and then we muddle through the rest.  It’s been a real life saver that she’s been able to continue coming in a socially distant manner. 
  • If that’s not realistic for you, think about calling in favours from friends and neighbours, see if anyone can deliver a casserole, curry or lasagne shaped care package – or if all else fails there’s always Deliveroo!

NUMBER SIX: Make some time for you

  • In previous years I have been TERRIBLE at this.  But this year I’m consciously making an effort to make it different.  I’m doing an exercise class every day during lockdown (it’s a personal challenge and I’m loving it).  I get up at 6:45 am, check on the boys and then jump on my exercise bike for 20 minutes or half an hour.  It’s a little thing but it makes a real difference to my state of mind.

NUMBER SEVEN: Set yourself some House Rules.

  • One of ours is no discussing the business after 8pm, this is really hard to stick to over Christmas.  But by setting a deadline it helps us to be in a headspace where we can think about the kids and put them first – wherever possible.

NUMBER EIGHT: Shut the door on Christmas Eve and don’t think about it!

  • You can do no more, your studio will be clear of orders and if not, anything you pack now won’t get there until after Christmas anyway.  Tidy away and shut the door (where possible).  We try to have Christmas Eve drinks with some local friends and a Crib service.  It’s now that your family will get 100% of your attention so treasure it!

NUMBER NINE: Christmas Day

  • Well, don’t be surprised if you wake up on Christmas day with a stinking cold or a migraine.  I think our bodies try so hard to stay strong and keep going that the moment that you relax you are bound to get ill.  Keep your vitamins going beforehand to avoid this but also be prepared.
  • Hosting Christmas day without help would be probably impossible after the busiest few weeks of your professional life – or it would simply just take the fun out of it.  I have alternate Christmases at mine, where I order in 90% of the meal from COOK and I have no regrets – it’s totally awesome and honestly no-one minds I’ve not spent hours preparing veggies or stuffing turkeys.

NUMBER TEN: Make a tradition for Boxing Day celebrations

  • It might not be a big one this year depending on the rules but having something to look forward to straight after Christmas is the perfect destresser. We organise a bi-annual ‘Crackit Game’ – you arrive in your wellies with anything to hit a ball with (Hockey Stick, Cricket Bat, Lacrosse Stick, Tennis Racket…anything!) you are then put into a team and you run around a muddy field for the game).  We follow up the games with mulled wine and nibbles in the garden.  It’s such a magical day we adore it, plus hopefully it’ll happen this year because we only really entertain in the garden anyway!

Overall I feel like my number one piece of advice for small business owners balancing Christmas and Family is to be grateful.  Be grateful for every order because it enables you to support your family, be grateful for every moment with your kids (even when they’re taking you away from your work) because the memories you make this year you’ll treasure forever.  

One day soon, you’ll find yourself elbow deep in orders staring blankly out of a dark window, wondering how on earth you’re going to do this and just like that by your side will be little hands, little helpers (whether they can pack up some orders or simply just give you the cuddle that you need to keep going) and you’ll be so grateful that your challenge this year is such a wonderful one.