Is it just me, or does it suddenly feel like winter has arrived?

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was enjoying the lighter evenings, leaving the office while it was still daylight and making the most of the warmer weather. Now it’s getting dark before the working day has even finished, the heating is back on and I’m seriously questioning whether I need to leave the house quite so early in the morning!

I don’t particularly mind the changing seasons. There’s something quite nice about getting home on a cold evening, putting the heating on and settling down for the night. But I do find that this time of year can affect how I feel and how motivated I am.

During the summer, everything seems a little easier. The days are longer, there’s more daylight and somehow it feels as though there’s more time to get things done. Come November, the darker mornings and evenings can make it much more tempting to stay indoors and put things off until tomorrow.

And when you’re running a business, that’s not always an option!

Does the Time of Year Affect Your Motivation?

I’ve been wondering whether other business owners notice a difference in their motivation as the seasons change.

Some people seem to thrive at this time of year. They love the colder weather, the build-up to Christmas and the opportunity to start planning for the year ahead.

Others find it a bit of a struggle. Getting out of bed when it’s cold and dark isn’t particularly appealing, and by the time you finish work, it can feel as though the day is already over.

I think there’s also a certain amount of pressure as we approach the end of the year. We start looking back at what we’ve achieved, what we haven’t quite managed to do and all those things we promised ourselves we’d get around to.

It’s easy to focus on what’s still outstanding rather than everything we’ve accomplished.

Perhaps we should give ourselves a little more credit. Running a business isn’t always easy, and getting through another busy year is an achievement in itself.

The People Who Make a Difference

One thing I’ve come to appreciate more and more is the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people.

I spend a lot of time meeting other business owners through networking, working with clients and having conversations with people who are facing many of the same challenges that I am.

And I’ve noticed how much difference the right people can make to your week.

You can start the day feeling a little tired, perhaps not particularly enthusiastic about everything on your to-do list, and then have a conversation with somebody who completely changes your mood.

It might be a fellow business owner sharing something exciting they’re working on, a client who’s had a good week or simply somebody who makes you laugh over a coffee.

Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Of course, we all have difficult days, and being positive doesn’t mean pretending everything is wonderful when it isn’t. I think it’s just as important to have people around you who will listen when things aren’t going particularly well.

For me, it’s about spending time with people who encourage you, challenge your thinking and leave you feeling better about the day ahead.

Running a business can sometimes feel quite lonely, even when you’re surrounded by people. Having a good network of friends, colleagues and fellow business owners can make a real difference.

And let’s face it, a good laugh occasionally doesn’t hurt either!

Christmas Is Just Around the Corner

It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching Christmas. I’m sure it was only five minutes ago that we were talking about summer holidays!

This is also the time of year when I start thinking about what I want to get finished before the Christmas break and what can realistically wait until January.

There’s always that temptation to squeeze everything into the last few weeks of the year. One more meeting, one more project, one more thing to cross off the list.

But I’m becoming increasingly aware that not everything needs to be completed before the Christmas decorations come down from the loft.

Sometimes it’s better to finish the year feeling reasonably organised and ready for a break than to spend December running around trying to do absolutely everything.

I’m also interested in how other business owners approach Christmas. Do you close the business for a proper break, or is it one of your busiest times of the year? Perhaps you work right through, or maybe you use the quieter period to catch up and plan.

There’s no single right answer, but I do think it’s worth making time to enjoy the things that matter outside work.

After all, we don’t start businesses simply to spend every waking hour working in them.

Finding Motivation in the Smaller Things

I don’t think motivation always has to come from setting big goals or making ambitious plans.

Sometimes it’s the smaller things that keep us going.

A productive meeting, a positive conversation, helping somebody solve a problem or simply finishing the week knowing you’ve made a bit of progress.

I’ve also learned that you can’t expect to feel motivated every single day. Some mornings you’ll be full of enthusiasm, while on others the prospect of another coffee might be the most exciting thing on the agenda!

And that’s perfectly normal.

What matters is finding a way to keep moving forward without putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.

For me, having people around who I enjoy spending time with, work that I find rewarding and something to look forward to outside the office all help.

Perhaps the darker evenings are also a useful reminder that it’s okay to slow down occasionally. We spend so much of the year rushing from one thing to another that we sometimes forget to enjoy where we are.

A Thought as We Head Towards Winter

As we move through November and towards Christmas, I’m trying to focus less on everything that still needs doing and a little more on what I’ve achieved, the people I’ve met and the things I’m looking forward to.

There will always be another email to answer, another meeting to attend and another job waiting on the desk. That’s simply part of running a business.

But there are also good conversations, friendships, opportunities and moments that remind us why we do what we do.

And perhaps those are the things worth holding on to when it’s cold, dark and the motivation is running a little low.

So, I’m interested to know how other people feel about this time of year.

Do the darker evenings and colder mornings affect your motivation, or do you enjoy the change of season? And what keeps you feeling positive as we head towards Christmas?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.