Here at Provide Design we don’t like to think of ourselves as Party Poopers. We like to think of ourselves as Christmas Crackers – explosively good and containing lots of nice surprises (and the odd really bad joke). Today we just wanted to write about something which becomes very apparent this time of year.

We’re not being Party Poopers and there isn’t a humbug in sight, but as Christmas gets closer it seems a lot of us use it as a reason to panic and forget about what lies ahead until it is all over and we are comfortably in the New Year.

From a business perspective we have seen many Christmases where everything is rushed into the last few days. Suppliers drop the ball, clients ring expecting the impossible and there isn’t even time to think about the Christmas shopping! This is when detail is missed and our need to get the year over and done with can cloud our foresight and we forget about planning for the coming months.

This year we did it differently. We planned all our marketing activity, we booked our jobs in advance so there would be no need for Christmas Eve deliveries and we made sure that when January comes round it will be a solid continuation on from 2008. No drastic resolutions – just keep stuck to the business plan.

We also employed the assistance of marketing experts to guide us on what our next move should be. Designers and creatives we are, but as marketeers we have a lot to learn – always bring in the professionals to move this part of your business forward.

So this year we will be relaxed and comfy over Christmas knowing what is coming next. Nice feeling – works great with mulled wine.

So Merry Christmas everyone – have a great time. Unwind and if you’ve not done it already, at least mentally prepare for an awesome 2009 – it will be one!

At 7.30 you are awoken by the shrill sound of your alarm clock. One arm stretches from beneath the duvet and automatically presses the snooze button. You think to yourself “I’ll wait until the alarm goes off next time…”. This process is repeated until the alarm clock finally gives up or you give up and haul yourself out of bed…. usually just before regular office hours begin.

“As long as I’m awake enough to answer the phone if any clients call I’ll be fine.” you think. The kettle is put on, a shower is taken, the dishwasher emptied, the cat fed, clothing desicions made and eventually at about 10.30am you sit at your desk, coffee in hand and switch on your computer. Email is checked and read, Facebook maybe perused, that present for your niece found on Amazon and your to-do list reveiwed.

“Time for another coffee.” Then after an important meeting with the cat it’s back to work.

It’s a freelancers life…. and we all have had days like it when we work for ourselves from our homes. Sure, we usually end up making up the time elsewhere, or so we tell ourselves, but none of us could deny that when working from home those small domestic duties and commitments suddenly seem much more important (or favourable) than that review that needs writing.

There are also times when I have sprung out of bed and worked a half day solid before most have even eaten their cornflakes. I have gone to the front door at 10 o’clock in the evening to put out the rubbish and it has been locked… This is because I have not stepped one foot outside and not met single living soul all day…

Then there is office / studio life. The daily commute, breakfast show radio or reading a great book on the train. A sunny drive with some uplifting music playing in the car. Arriving at work, coffee machine on and a quick catch up with colleagues. Email checked, meeting with associates, new tasks allocated, 1st 3 items crossed off the to-do list by 10.30am.

A buzz is in the air because of a great pitch win and the hum of activity keeps you motivated. You find out all about Dave’s unbelievable weekend and learn from the delivery driver that he actually used to be roadie for Led Zeppelin and that he prefers Mercedes vans to Fords. One thousand ideas run through your head after an afternoon briefing and when you turn off the computer at the end of the day you look forward to an evening at home with some good food and a couple of favourite shows on TV.

There are only certain jobs you can do from home, our creative field almost being one of them. I have to say though there is nothing like the buzz of a studio environment to get the juices flowing and the enthusiam of colleagues to keep you motivated… even if it does mean getting out of bed a bit earlier.