Christmas Time🎄 , Chaotic Transitions 🕰️ & Breaking through Burnout 🔥
I know it’s been a minute since I shared an update with you all and boy, has it been a whirlwind of excitement, challenges, and growth over these last few months before we close up 2023✨. And... we are finally at my favourite time of year Christmas !!
The festive period since starting BijouCREATES has began to look VERY different for me , and to be honest is one of my most manic times of year.
With the surge in gift giving during this period, it's a great time for sales but can leave you feeling even more stretched when it comes to managing all my roles, spending time with friends and family and making space to celebrate the true values of the Christmas Season !
Stay to the end of this quarterly recap, as I review my transition from summer into winter, ending with my personal tips on how I balance juggling many different tasks. Switching between practicing architecture, running BijouCREATES, doing my Part 3 course and managing burnout!
Summer Success into Winter
I feel like I was riding quite a wave since this Summer "23. I was fortunate during the summer to have time to more fully focus on growing the reach of BijouCREATES. During this period, we saw the brand launch in a new retail store Blackpound Day, Westfield, White City, be feature in a Black business pop-up shop at Somerset House. I also ran a number of markets stall and popup shops through London and Surrey. This was such a dynamic period, engaging in new ways to share and grow the business, with the summer vibes, high energy and new designs blending to create the perfect storm.
The end of August through to December has seen me return to somewhat of a tighter routine. As many of you know, I've been juggling multiple roles lately, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this crazy balancing act.
The Full-Time Job Hustle – Being a Part 2 Architect.
First and foremost, let's talk about my full-time gig at the architecture practice. If you didn’t know, my design view and training stems for my journey and training to becoming an architect and this grately influnces and shapes how i develop BijouCREATES. It's been a busy period over these past four months as I settled into a new practice. A rollercoaster of projects, deadlines, and late nights on CAD and adapting to a new workflow dynamic within a new studio. The architecture world is demanding, and while it's immensely fulfilling, it can also be mentally and physically exhausting. Something that I’ve been loving recently, one full year on from complementing my master’s is the slow growing confidence and agency I have been gaining as an architect. In my current role I am very fortunate to work directly with clients to run live jobs from concept to completion. In doing so I’ve been to gain understanding to the challenges that come progress projects in the UK, and finally start to feel strong in choosing to practice in the field.
Of course, the challenge always lies in finding that delicate equilibrium between giving my best at work, completing high quality projects for the practice, whilst still ensuring I have enough energy and design energy and inspiration to keep pouring into BijouCREATES.
BijouCREATES: A Passion Project Turned Business
What started as a creative outlet for me has blossomed into a full-fledged business. From designing to sourcing materials, managing inventory, and handling customer interactions, it's been a journey that has tested my organizational skills and passion for creativity. For myself I found my summer strategy was all about finding new avenues to sell and distribute my products. Summer and prints go hand in hand, so the earlier summer months were such an exciting time to finally truly burst into retail and brick and mortar stores, and to network to develop new relationships which seem to be bear more fruit for the brand. Now as it get cooler and, in the lead, up to Christmas, my focus has been back to online, and also focusing on tightening up my manufacture process with my team, learning for our trends, success and failures from this year, as we gear up to get all my stock ready to hit 2024.
Part 3 in Architecture: The Never-Ending Learning Curve
In the midst of all this chaos, I've also been diligently working on completing my Part 3 in Architecture. The academic rigors, coupled with real-world professional experiences, have made this phase a challenging but necessary part of my journey. This will no doubt also pick up in January as I develop my case study.
It's a delicate dance, but I'm determined to waltz my way through it with grace.
Dealing with Burnout: The Uninvited Guest
Balancing a full-time job, running a business, and pursuing advanced studies can be a recipe for burnout if not handled carefully. I've had my fair share of moments when I felt the weight of it all, but acknowledging the signs of burnout and taking proactive steps has been crucial. Setting boundaries, prioritising self-care, and learning to say no when necessary have become my survival tools.
Now since the continuous growth of BijouCREATES, Christmas of course is one of my most hectic times of year, trying to get all the orders and gifts out on time for everyone's festive givings, restocking stores and just generally staying onto of everything. This is always a very exciting period seeing the surge in activity for the business but also can be difficult with balance the personal commitments of spending time with friends and families. (I was 2 hours late to a Christmas dinner/ party with my uni friends after working a Christmas market in day and doing a store drop off new stock in the evening after before the diner. Best to say they were not pleased 👀😅)
So, how do I stay positive and motivated through this hectic schedule? It's all about perspective. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and I choose to focus on the silver linings. Celebrating small wins, surrounding myself with a supportive network of friends and family, and remembering why I started this journey in the first place keeps me inspired.
Tips for Breaking through Burnout
1. Prioritise and Plan: Each day is a puzzle, and effective planning is the key to solving it.
2. Delegate: Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether at work or in your business, delegation is a superpower.
3. Self-Care Rituals: Find what rejuvenates you, be it a good book, a nature walk, or a cosy night in. Make self-care non-negotiable.
4. Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. It's these moments that fuel your journey.
5. Mindset Matters: Cultivate a positive mindset, and find ways to greet lows with the same face and the highs. Challenges are opportunities in disguise.
Don't let the Rush make you Miss Christmas!
Cheers to the beautiful chaos that is life and may we all find the balance that makes our hearts sing.
Tis the season to be jolly, but for many of us, the festive cheer can quickly turn into a recipe for work burnout. As we deck the halls and wrap up projects, it's essential to unwrap some strategies for dealing with the holiday hustle.
As I navigate through the chaos of full-time work, BijouCREATES, and Part 3 architectural studies, I'm learning that life is indeed a grand adventure. It's messy, challenging, and unpredictable, but it's also incredibly rewarding. So, here's to the late nights, the tight deadlines, and the moments of sheer joy when everything falls into place.
Instead of drowning in a sea of deadlines and tinsel, consider giving yourself the gift of balance. Take breaks to indulge in a hot cocoa moment, set boundaries to protect your downtime, and don't forget to add a sprinkle of laughter to your to-do list. After all, managing work burnout during the holidays is like navigating through a winter wonderland—strategic snowball fights and all. So, grab your festive mug, put on your coziest sweater, and sleigh your way through the season with a dash of joy and a pinch of self-care. Cheers to decking the halls without feeling like you've been hit by a Christmas tree!
Cheers to a holly, jolly, and burnout-free holiday season! 🎄✨
Merry Christmas
love Bijou x