🔒How to balance work life during the holidays

In college I remember it seemed as if there was often a competition as to who had the most work to do. There was a certain one-upsmanship when it came to having more papers, lab reports, presentations or exams than your friends and classmates. As a small business owner, parent, community member and only daughter, I sometimes feel that way at the holidays. Everyone is in a frenzied state, and nobody seems to think about the true meaning of the season.

My experience has been that feeling grateful on a daily basis is the perfect way to align yourself with the true meaning of the holidays. It's about being grateful for your health, the ability to live and work in Maine, and to have the wonderful people in your life who help you achieve your life goals every day.

My new area of focus, personal branding, is not only about holding yourself in high esteem, but also honoring those who have contributed to your success and happiness. It's important to show your gratitude to the people who have made your life what it is today. What better time than the holidays?  Here is a checklist for holiday giving and remembering.

• Your family: What experiences can you create with your family that will stay with all of you for a lifetime? Block out family time before you let all your other commitments creep in and take away from those who are most important to you. Now, there may be family members who you really don't enjoy spending time with, or who get on your nerves. In that case, do your best to spend time with the person and give yourself some time afterwards to decompress with a walk or a yoga class. 

• Your friends: Send old-fashioned cards in the mail to the people who mean the most to you. Yes, it takes time and it costs some money, but it is an important tradition to show people you are thinking of them and what they mean to you.

• Your business associates or employees: It's nice to be able to give cash to employees, but it's equally important to give them your time. Plan a holiday get-together with those you work with, and share some good food and festivities. Being able to look someone in the eye and show them you appreciate what they've done for you in the past year is priceless.

• Personal helpers: Do you have someone who cleans your house, cares for your car, or helps you in some invaluable way? Show your appreciation with a home-made gift, hand-written note, or even an invitation for a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

• Yourself: Take care of yourself! Be sure to keep up your exercise routine and your healthy eating habits. Many people let themselves go over the holidays and say they will get back on track after the New Year, but this is the time when it's most important to take care of the most important person in the world: YOU!

Personal branding involves projecting the best version of yourself. It can't be superficial. And it can't be frenzied. Nobody is at their best when they are stressed to the max. Aligning your personal brand inside and out is the key to being an authentic person who others will like and trust. True authenticity is about feeling a deep sense of appreciation, connection and gratitude for the people in your life each and every day, and that's what the holidays are all about.

Nancy Marshall is founder and CEO of Augusta-based Nancy Marshall Communications, a public relations and marketing firm. She can be reached at nmarshall@marshallpr.com