Q4 is almost upon us: the busiest time of the year for Amazon sellers. In 2019, Amazon generated a total of $87.44 billion in net sales – and that number is only set to become even larger this year!

The quarter itself, as exciting and busy as it can be, can also bring with it a whole host of struggles and obstacles that can become overwhelming and exhausting if you’re not prepared for the period.

I’ve experienced five Q4s so far, with 2020 hosting my sixth, and I have learnt a hell of a lot along the way. There have been ups and downs and everything in between, but what I can say is that Q4 is actually one of my favourite times of the year because I now know how to handle it.

Today I’m sharing my 7 top tips on avoiding overwhelm and exhaustion in Q4 so you can make the period as stress-free and enjoyable for yourself, as possible.

1. Plan as much as possible

It can get too much when everything you need to do is flying around inside your head with no sense of coordination or organisation. This is why you must do your best in terms of planning out your Q4 – you can even do this on a week-by-week basis.

Write down everything you need to do, and then organise it. I pre-plan my entire day – from the moment I wake up and my morning rituals, to the areas of focus needed in work that day, my deep work sessions and any meetings that are needed.

Get it out of your head and into a tool such as Google Calendar or a task management system such as Asana. The simple act of doing this and planning ahead takes such a massive weight off your shoulders and a lot off your mind, meaning that you will handle Q4 with much more clarity, focus and less stress.

2. Set up personal routines and rituals outside of the business

The truth is, in Q4 the work doesn’t stop. There will always be loads for you to get done, and if you keep going without stopping and giving yourself breaks, you can easily become burnt out and stressed.

This is why you need to also prioritise things that you do for yourself.

Whether you love reading, sitting outside with a cup of tea, running, watching an episode of your latest favourite on Netflix, swimming, catching up with a friend… don’t let Q4 take these things away from you; after all, these are the things that are going to keep you calm and grounded within this busy period.

Give yourself this gift and block these periods of time out in your diary – much like making an appointment with yourself. Be STRICT and keep to them – you’ll thank yourself in the long run.

3. Take care of YOURSELF

This ties in to the point above, but I really have to re-iterate it because it’s just so damn important!

If you don’t take care of yourself, this will have a knock-on effect on everything else around you: your business, your family, your team. 

Q4 is a marathon, not a sprint. It will be long and tiring, so you need to prepare it for it in all ways; mind, body and soul.

Do things that help you to take care of all three. This could be learning through podcasts, books or videos, eating well and making sure you get some physical exercise, and adopting or continuing with practices that relax you and help to quieten everything down, such as journaling or meditating.

The better you take care of yourself, the better you will be able to take care of everything else, so make it a priority.

4. Get closer to your team

The more you plan ahead for your team with Q4 the better.

You need to understand that as much as Q4 impacts you, it will impact them too – especially team members such as virtual assistants who help with sourcing, and those who have never experienced Q4 working with you before.

Communication is key, so I would really recommend increasing your regular meetings with vital key members who are likely to be impacted.

Keep in touch regularly, have daily chats, be on hand to help them with any questions or queries they may have and ensure that there is clarity in everything.

5. Delegate tasks

As well as the above, take some time in the planning stages (point 1) and delegate tasks that don’t need to be done by you, to your team members.

This will relieve a lot of pressure from you and ensure that you don’t get too overwhelmed or exhausted. 

6. Expect the unexpected

Q4 is unpredictable, that’s for sure!

Understand that sometimes things don’t go to plan; whether it’s with Amazon, with a supplier, with a customer or even within your team itself, things are not going to be ideal 100% of the time.

Learn to expect the unexpected and take everything in your stride. Deal with things calmly and effectively and don’t allow them to get you down. 

This is where tips 2 and 3 will really help you – if you’re fulfilled, calm and peaceful within yourself, then you’ll be able to deal with obstacles within the business during Q4 much more effectively, than if you’re burnt out and stressed.

7. Surround yourself with positivity 

Your environment makes a massive difference to your mindset, your success and your motivation. This is why it is SUPER IMPORTANT to surround yourself only with positivity and that which will benefit you. I call this creating your massive action eco-system.

Your massive action eco-system is everything that you consume or that you’re around; whether that’s the things you see, the space in which you work, through the books you read, the podcasts you listen to and the people you surround yourself with, to name but a few.

Everything around you and everything you take in needs to uplift you, inspire you and motivate you to keep taking massive action and to not give up or allow anything to knock you down.

A supportive community is hugely beneficial too, especially when there are others who have been where you are and can give you advice and tips on how to overcome an obstacle that you’re facing. You can join our Massive Action Mastermind Facebook group here, for all things to do with Amazon businesses.

Finally…

I always like to remind myself of what a fantastic opportunity Amazon is and how it’s changed my life and the lives of so many others.

Yes Q4 is crazy! But at the same time, it’s an incredible time of the year, not just for sales but for your own learning and growth too.

I hope the above tips help to ensure you don’t end up battling with overwhelm or exhaustion during the period, and instead help you to handle it calmly, effectively and efficiently, while enjoying every step of the journey.

Have a great one, everyone!

Here’s to your massive success!