The holidays are approaching, and it is time to prepare for personal trainers/physiotherapists taking time off, create seasonal offers and put together gifts for customers. As the festive spirit slowly builds, it is important to have everything organised to avoid the burnout we often feel at this time of year.
Is your gym, fitness studio, physiotherapy practice or fitness business ready for the holiday rush? Here are some of our favourite tips and tricks for getting through the season successfully and, above all, without stress:
Set the staff schedule in advance
For smooth organisation during the holidays, make sure staff rotas are prepared through to the end of the year. This also includes updating class timetables with any replacements covering instructors who take time off during this period. Tackling this early in the season helps daily activities run as smoothly as possible and prevents classes suddenly being cancelled at the last minute, or, in the worst case, your gym or business having to close for the day.
Prepare your staff for the rush
Whether you have an influx of customers attending classes, overcrowded workout rooms or holiday shoppers queuing at your tills to buy seasonal offers or gift vouchers, your staff must be prepared for the holiday rush. To achieve this, hold a team meeting at the start of each week to review expectations for the busy week ahead. Taking this small step brings more success and less stress to you, your customers, your team and your business.
Consider hiring extra seasonal team members
When several tasks need doing and there are not enough staff, the situation can become stressful in no time. To help yourself and your staff stay cool, calm and collected during this highly profitable time of year, consider hiring temporary help. An extra pair of hands can be especially useful if many staff are taking time off for the holidays, or if you feel you could use help in your shop or at reception. An AI chatbot can also be a low-cost yet highly effective solution. This team member answers all your customers’ urgent questions like a receptionist, but you do not have to pay it a salary.
Provide holiday-specific training plans and themes
Coming up with holiday promotions can be stressful and time-consuming. By setting up Workouts Wizard accordingly, you can quickly stand out from the competition with your own holiday-specific training plans. For example, you can reduce instructors’ workload a little by letting members work through these fun training plans with a seasonal theme.
Remember to take time for yourself and relax too
Just because it is a busy time of year does not mean self-care should take a back seat. At the end of each working day, take time to do something good for yourself to reduce stress. Do something to free up your leisure time and prepare for the rest of the festive season. Remember to take care of YOURSELF, and encourage your staff to do the same.
