Life can be stressful.
Business can certainly cause a lot of that stress, especially if you don’t have systems in place to help you keep things organized and stream lined.
So, what do you do if you are in that mode of feeling like you are never going to get ahead of the paperwork, conquer that To-Do list or spend enough time with your kids?
Create systems to reduce your stress and actually enjoy life.
“Where do I start?” you might be asking…
Start with you. Create a system to make sure that you are eating right, taking care of your mind, body and spirit and getting your basic needs met. My friend, Max Simon once told me that he starts each day with 15 minutes of meditation and prayer, 15 minutes of yoga, 15 minutes of nourishment and 15 minutes of personal growth (reading). This is a great system for taking care of the self.
On an airplane, when the oxygen mask falls, the flight attendant instructs us to put our own mask on before assisting our loved ones. This is the same in life. If your oxygen isn’t flowing, you can’t help others. So make sure you are getting your basic needs met and then you can move on to those around you.
A relationship system can include things like weekly or bi-monthly date nights with your partner and each of your children. It can incorporate family vacations, wellness check ups or couples counseling. Systems can also be created for managing and developing desired behavior in your kids.
Whatever you and your loved ones need to feel supported, connected and happy is what this system looks like. It doesn’t mean that you can’t focus on your business and it certainly won’t take away from your productivity. This system will just let your loved ones know that they matter and when they can expect to spend time with you where you are fully present.
When you have a self care and a relationship system, your business will be healthier because you will be emotionally supported by those around you.
Now it’s time to get into business systems.
When it comes to business and stress, they seem to go hand in hand. However, if you are building a business based on your passions while operating from your personal core values and building a team that compliments these values, your stress should be relatively minor. If you find that you are experiencing a tremendous amount of stress, your business or lifestyle may be out of alignment with one of the items above. It may be time for a boost in your self care or relationship systems or your revenue model may need some tweaking.
Basic business systems should include systems for the client experience, finances, team management and business development. If you haven’t spent a significant time developing these systems in your business plan, now is a good time to do this. Your WHY will also help you to reconnect with the purpose of your business, so you can create an amazing client experience that builds your customer base, brings in consistent revenue and keeps you, your team and your loved ones living stress free and happy.
Systems are all about keeping things in your life and business streamlined. Document what gets you the results you desire and repeat those actions. Systems help kids to feel secure in the comfort of a routine and adults to feel calm amidst the chaos of everyday life and team members to know what is expected of them. Systems keep life running smoothly (for the most part, so create systems that help you plan for disasters too).
If you notice stress creeping in and taking over your daily experience, this is an indication that your systems need some tweaking. Expect this to happen from time to time and don’t see it as a sign of failure but rather a tap on the shoulder that it’s time to get back to the basics.
Have you created an awesome self care system? Do you pride yourself on a great relationship system? Do you have any questions or stories? Please join the conversation in the comments below and join me as a co-host on #dadchat on Twitter with Bruce Sallan on August 9, 2012 at 6pm PST discussing life systems that support your best parenting and avoid stress!
