As summer holidays draw to a close and the back-to-routine vibes start kicking in, it’s easy to feel a mix of dread and guilt, right? You’ve enjoyed some well-deserved time off, and now you’re staring at an f-ton of admin tasks, unanswered emails, and maybe you’ve also missed opportunities to promote your biz. Sound familiar? Welcome to the club!😫
Before you start panicking, let’s take a deep breath. Getting back into the swing of things doesn’t have to mean losing your shit, procrastinating or even considering completely throwing in the towel because you’re just feeling so effing overwhelmed! In fact, with a little strategy and a dash of humour, you can ease back into your business routine with confidence and maybe even a smile on your face.
Just before I dive deeper into helping you step back into your biz routines with ease this September, let me remind you why my insights might just be the bit of magic you need…🧚♀️
I’m Danyel, the founder of Reign Virtual PA Services. As a London-based VA and copywriter, my mission is to empower business owners like you by providing first-class admin and marketing support. My expertise lies in crafting captivating marketing content for social media, blogs, newsletters, and websites. With over a decade of experience in the admin and creative fields, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with health & wellness experts, neurodivergent specialists, coaches, and financial experts.
Enough about me – let’s get back to why you’re really here… 💃
How do you even begin to tackle your whopping to-do list without feeling overwhelmed?🧐
Tip 1: Chunk it down
When you’re coming back to a mountain of tasks after a break, it’s tempting to try to tackle everything at once. But let’s be real, doing this is a total recipe for burnout and frustration. That’s why I advocate for “chunking it down.”
What does this mean? Instead of facing your entire to-do list head-on, break it into smaller, manageable sections. For instance, if your inbox is overflowing, dedicate the first 30 mins of your day solely to clearing out the urgent emails. After that, you could allocate another chunk of time to review pending tasks, like client follow-ups or organising your workspace. By focusing on one thing at a time, you’ll not only be more productive, but you’ll also reduce that overwhelming feeling that often comes with a long to-do list.
Why it works: Our brains thrive on small wins. By completing tasks in chunks, you get to experience a series of small victories throughout the day, which keeps you motivated and reduces stress. This method also allows you to build momentum. Once you start ticking off those smaller tasks, you’ll find it easier to dive into the bigger projects that need your attention.
How to implement this:
- Prioritise: Start with the most pressing tasks – those that’ll have the biggest impact on your biz.
- Time-blocking: Schedule specific times for specific tasks. For example, 9-10am could be for emails, 10-11am for social media content, and so on.
- Batching: Group similar tasks together. For example, if you need to create content for social media, do all the posts for the week in one go rather than spreading them out.
By chunking down your tasks, you’re not just getting more done – you’re doing it in a way that’s sustainable and keeps you from feeling overwhelmed.
Tip 2: Get (re)visible
Returning to work after a break often comes with the pressure to “be everywhere” online. But that’s not necessary, and it’s not sustainable either. Instead, focus on making your visibility manageable by choosing the platforms where your audience is most active and engaged.
Why is this important? We all know how important a consistent online presence is. It’s usually the first point of contact between you and potential clients, right? However, spreading yourself too thin by trying to maintain a strong presence on every platform can dilute your message and leave you feeling drained.
What should you do? Start by identifying where your audience hangs out the most. If your clients are predominantly on LinkedIn, focus your efforts there. If they’re more active on Insta, that’s where your attention should go. The idea is to maintain quality over quantity – engage meaningfully on one or two platforms rather than superficially on many.
How to implement this:
- Platform selection: Determine where your clients spend their time. If you’re unsure, a quick survey or a look at your analytics can give you insights.
- Content planning: Plan out your content for the week or month. This ensures consistency without requiring you to think on your feet every day.
- Engagement strategy: Focus on engaging with your audience rather than just posting content. Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage conversations. This kind of interaction builds relationships and fosters trust.
In a nutshell, no matter what your competitor, mum, aunty, bestfriend or cat might be doing, you must work out what works for you and your biz!🙌 You don’t have to be everywhere at once. By focusing your visibility efforts on platforms that matter most to your business and your audience, you can maintain a strong online presence without feeling overwhelmed. It’s about being strategic and intentional with your time and energy, so you can manage your online visibility while still getting everything else done.
Getting back to business after taking a summer break doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. By breaking down tasks into manageable chunks and easing back into your online presence, you’ll find that the transition is much smoother than expected.
So, how are you feeling about diving back into business mode? Are you ready to smash the shit out of it, or are you tempted to extend your holz for the foreseeable, ha? 😅
If the thought of juggling it all is making you sweat, let’s have a chat. Get in touch to book in your free 30 min consultation, and let’s discuss your current admin and marketing strategies and even look into how outsourcing certain tasks could help you stay focused on what actually matters in your business. Because, let’s be real, you’ve got enough on your plate already, right?!
You can find out more about me and my offerings here, or contact me here to arrange a free 30 minute chat about your needs. Don’t worry there will be no icky sales talk on my side or intense weekly newsletters after this, it’ll just be a chat about what you’re struggling with and how I could support you going forward.
If you’re not quite ready to send that email, come and connect with me on Insta. I share a lot of useful and informative marketing tips that’ll help you to strengthen your current processes and strategies. I am looking forward to connecting with you and learning more about your brand and biz journey!
