photo by Stefanie ReneeGuest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Cass Mullane

Here are three year ‘round practices that are particularly important to apply now to help make your holidays more enjoyable.

Know your REAL Hourly Wage. Knowing your REAL hourly wage will put some perspective on the actual value of the things you’re plunking down your hard earned dollars on. When you figure out how many extra hours of work you’ll need to do to pay for the item, you may think twice about swiping that credit card or clicking the “Buy Now” button.

Your REAL hourly wage is made up of four parts: your gross salary, your taxes and benefits, your job related expenses (like commuting, parking, dry cleaning, child care) and the number of hours you work in a year. Click here to learn how to quickly figure out your REAL hourly wage.

Now, let’s say your REAL hourly wage is $20.00 per hour. In order to buy a $100 item, you’ll need to work an extra five hours to pay for that item.

I’ve read that average Americans spend nearly $1000 on entertainment and on gifts during the holidays, so that means you’re going to have to work 50 extra hours in order to cover the spending average. Only you can decide whether or not the purchases are worth the extra hours of work.

“Does This Make Sense?” One of my favorite questions to ask any time I am thinking about investing my time and my money is “Does this make sense?” This simple question does a few things: it makes you step back and look at the situation with less emotion, it engages the gray matter inside your head and it allows you to make better decisions.

Let’s test it. Ask yourself this question out loud: “Can I afford this?” Now check in and see how your body is reacting physically to the question. With many people, there is a feeling of tightness, stress and negativity around this question.

Now, ask yourself “Does this make sense?” Check in and see if there is a difference in how you feel. Most people feel more expansive and relaxed because the brain is going to work instead of the emotions. Now think about how this question can help you make decisions with calmness and clarity. Wouldn’t calm and clear be nice in the craziness that is the holiday season?

Simplify. Go with simple this season and relax! Instead of running around like a crazy person, think of what you can do to reduce stress and keep your holidays cool, calm and collected. Embrace imperfection, take a walk when stress mounts, get a massage, unplug for some quiet time every day. These are quality self-care habits we should already have as part of our lives. During the holidays it is particularly important to ensure that we maintain great self-care. Then we’re much more available to thoroughly enjoy the season.

________________________
Cass Mullane’s calm, comfortable approach consistently yields positive results for clients. Her business and personal coaching practice, www.ProsperCreatively.com, specializes in delivering solid left brain business skills to right brainers and creatives in a fun, visual way. Cass is is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.”