Guest Author - Emily Wilska
Now that the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone it's time to get ready for the December holidays. Here are a few ideas to help keep you on track throughout the month and to help make your celebrations, whatever they may be, less stressful and more fun.
Cards and correspondence
•If the thought of sending holiday cards in December makes your head spin, consider holding off until January and sending Happy New Year greetings instead. You'll have one less task to do this month, and your cards won't get lost in the shuffle of the other correspondence people receive in December.
•Can't imagine the season without Christmas or Hanukah cards? Make it a point to write and send them this week. (Hanukah begins this Wednesday, so you'll want to get to the mailbox ASAP tomorrow if you're sending Hanukah greetings.) If you're mailing cards across the country or internationally, posting them by the end of the week should ensure they'll arrive on time.
•As you receive cards from others, take a moment to be sure you have their addresses in your address book. Keeping your records up-to-date will prevent returned mail as well as the rush to find those last few addresses you need before dropping your cards in the mailbox.
Gift giving (and getting!)
•Try doing as much of your shopping online as you can. You'll avoid the throngs at the mall and can take your time browsing. If you'll be celebrating Christmas away from home, try having the items you order online shipped to your destination, rather than to your house, to avoid having to re-ship them or travel with them.
•To avoid spending more than you intend to or going overboard on gifts, make a list of who you're buying for and how much you want to spend on each person before you start shopping. Then make a promise to yourself to stick with those guidelines.
•Remember that experiences--a restaurant gift certificate, movie tickets, a massage--can be great gifts, especially for people who already have plenty of things or people who might not be able to pay for these experiences themselves.
•If you find yourself over-"stuffed," consider asking others to give you experiences instead of things. You might also opt to have people make donations in your name; sites like www.whatgoesaround.org let you create a wish list of charities that are meaningful to you.
Things to do, places to go...
•Don't force yourself to go to holiday gatherings or events you won't enjoy. You'll clutter up your schedule, increase your stress level, and lose time you could spend on more important things. When declining party invitations, a simple thank you note or phone call is a good way to let the hostess know that you appreciate her thinking of you.
•If you don't already create some kind of daily to-do list, now is a great time to start; if you do, keep it up, and be sure to refer to your list throughout the day. Jot down reminders, tasks, and notes as you think of them, and check things off as you finish them.
•When possible, try to do tasks in bulk. For example, get all of your baking done at once, and freeze the items you won't use right away. The initial investment of time and effort will pay off in the end.
Finally, regardless of how busy your schedule gets, be sure to set aside time for yourself--even if only a few minutes--each day. Stepping away from the hustle and bustle of the season will help you recharge, relax, and reward yourself for all you've done. Here's to you!
