When
you think about it, Market Traders have a big advantage over many of our
contemporaries. We can put closure on our days work and focus on things like
family, social activities, or just plain relaxing, much easier than other
groups.
Workplace
literature is full of suggestions for seperating work and private life as an
important component of maintaining healthy minds and avoiding work stress. Much
has been written about setting markers at the end of the working day to achieve
that separation. For market traders
closing the shop front or, probably the ultimate separation, completely packing
up your stall, is a great way of stepping away from work.
This
sort of end-of-day activity might explain why it can be so difficult to get
Market Traders to attend after hours information sessions. They have already
switched off in a very positive and clear way. There is no blurring of lines
between work and private life for Market Traders. The door is closed, or the
stall us packed, and “I’m off!”
Of
course even market traders can sometimes find it hard to turn off. And this is
where the literature designed for the rest of the workforce can include some
handy tips -
1.
Write notes - anything left undone at the
end of the trading day should be parked on a written list for attention when
you re-open.
2.
Leave your stall or shop tidy - that
cements the completion of the day and readiness for tomorrow.
3.
Develop techniques for answering that
inevitable after hours question from family or friends - “How was your day?” or
“How was business?”. You don’t really want to step back into business mode so
maybe divert the question by recalling a happy social event during the day,
perhaps a great customer, or return with the question “My day was fine. What
great things happened for you today?”
4.
“Focus on the things you can control”. This
is a recent line from Michelle Obama that has particular relevance for Market
Traders. There are many factors influencing retail right now over which we have
little or no control. The things that we can productively focus on are
presenting our businesses in the best possible light, and excelling in customer
service. The rest just has too many frustrations.
Good
luck with your own work/private life balance.
