It’s crunch time. For marketers, Q4 can bring equal amounts of fun and stress. The holidays are just around the corner, and at the same time, we’re putting the finishing touches on our Black Friday campaigns.
Take a deep breath. Here are some quick and easy things that marketers can do to stay balanced and make the end-of-year rush more manageable:
1. Give your eyes a break with the 20-20-20 rule
We normally blink around 15 times a minute. When staring at screens, this number decreases by half and can lead to dry, irritated, and tired eyes. To combat this, optometrists developed the 20-20-20 rule – for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, you should either spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away or close your eyes for the same amount of time. While it might seem a little disruptive, give it a shot.
2. Ruthless prioritization
During the holiday season, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of trying to do it all. To avoid this, share your top 5 priorities with your manager at least once a week. By vocalizing them or writing them out, you’ll uncover ways to be more efficient. Plus, they can help you re-prioritize and focus on what matters most.
3. Find a #SpilltheTea time partner
Compounds in green tea have been proven to improve brain function. Instead of having that afternoon cup of coffee to keep you going, grab a co-worker and a cup of tea. While it steeps, take a minute to talk about your day – being accountable to someone will also help you break away for a much-needed eyeball break.
4. Unwind without screens
If you’re reading this, it’s likely that your job requires you to look at a screen all day. Pick one night a week to take a break from TV, Netflix, and your phone when you get home. Pick up a book, throw on a nice long mix or spend some time with friends and family.
5. Fuel Positive Emotions
You and your team are in this together. Actively focusing on positivity will not only reduce your own stress but will also reduce the stress of those around you. Show your co-workers a little love and communicate your appreciation with a quick note, email, or conversation in the hall.
You can also try looking at upsetting situations through new lenses:
- Reverse lens – Ask yourself, “What would the other person in this conflict say and how might he/she be right?”
- Long lens – Ask yourself, “How will I likely view this situation in 6 months?”
- Wide lens – Ask yourself, “How can I grow and learn from this situation?”
6. Practice Mindfulness
There are tons of ways to introduce a bit of extra mindfulness into your day without making it feel like a chore. You can try the Calm app for meditation exercises, unwind with these stress-reducing yoga poses, or check out these podcasts:
7. Sleep
Nice dovetail right? All of these stress-reducing recs will improve your sleep, but getting a few extra hours of sleep will work wonders. If you need a little help getting started, iOs users can use the “Bedtime” feature in the clock app, which allows you to set limits for your limits your screen time and uses subtle light and sound cues to wake you up. And when you go to bed, try to keep your phone across the room or in a different room altogether for a distraction-free environment.
About the author
Katie White, Associate Director of Client Strategy
Katie has spent the majority of her career in Travel & Hospitality, driving strategy for guest engagement programs at both Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and HotelTonight. Most recently, Katie led the global Engagement Marketing Team at HotelTonight while working cross-functionally to advance consumer learning, product enhancements, and retention initiatives. She used the power of Movable Ink’s technology to transform the email program and bring real-time, personalized visual experiences to her readers. Prior to HotelTonight, she drove co-marketing strategy for over 25 partners at Google Express.
Katie’s passion for travel runs deep and before landing at Movable Ink as Associate Director of the Client Strategy team’s Travel & Hospitality practice, she spent 8 months exploring the world.