Are We Stressed Yet?

Christmas is only six days away.

In case you didn't know that.

How're you doing on that to-do list? Baking done yet? Decorations up? Shopping finished? Presents wrapped? Cards sent?

Are we having fun yet?

Studies show that Christmas is one of the most stressful holidays of the year, but you probably already knew that, right? There are so many extra activities/responsibilities during this season that it's easy to get overwhelmed. There's school parties and church parties and neighborhood parties and family parties and programs and events and ... well, you get the idea.

Since you're reading the blog right now, you're probably procrastinating from all the Christmas work that you should be doing, so let me help ease a little of your burden. Here's a few simple ways to lighten some of the stress from the holidays.

1. Don't focus on what you can't do. Focus on what you can. Maybe you didn't personalize all your cards this year. Don't beat yourself up. Be glad you actually got them in the mail before the 24th.

2. Don't put added stress on yourself. For instance, if you're not a gourmet cook at other times of the year, don't plan on a culinary masterpiece to wow everyone at the dessert fellowship. Go ahead and make that boxed brownie mix. It's chocolate--who doesn't love that? Make it special by adding frosting and sprinkles. Hey, look, you just made a Christmas dessert!

3. If you're putting up your decorations a little at a time, then make today the day that you say "I'm finished decorating". Who cares if you only have half your tree decorated? Maybe you're starting a new trend.

4. Is it not Christmas until you've watched your favorite Christmas movie? Don't wait until you have a free evening because you know that's not happening until after New Year's. Find your movie on Hulu, Netflix, Amazon video, Vudu, Sling or some other streaming service. Now watch the movie on your phone while you do the dishes.

5. Haven't finished all your shopping? Stop looking for bargains and start shopping on Amazon. Get a prime membership if you don't already have one, and get all your packages delivered by Friday. Then check present shopping off the list. And don't beat yourself up looking for the perfect gift. You're past that point now. Instead you need to start truly believing that it's the thought that counts. And if all else fails, give chocolate.

6. Kiss your plans for the perfect Christmas goodbye. It was never going to happen anyway and with less than a week to go, you've got no time for fantasy. Realize that an adequate Christmas is really okay. If you're still striving for the perfect Christmas, you will fail. Adequate beats failure every time.

7. Stressing over gift wrapping? Buy gift bags and tissue paper. No hunting for scissors, no need to buy tape. And you an reuse the bags. Look at you being all thrifty!

8. Getting way behind on your list? Go put a load of laundry in the washer. It has nothing to do with Christmas, but after falling behind all day long, you'll still be able to feel like you've accomplished something. And as an added bonus, you'll have clean towels for tomorrow morning's shower. Your welcome.

9. Do not, under any circumstances, try to eat healthy or stick to a diet right now. No one needs that kind of stress. Instead, limit yourself to one dessert a day and then congratulate yourself on your self-control. Bonus tip:  Two cookies counts as one serving and if you split them up during the day, you'll feel like you've had two desserts with only half the guilt.

10. Set your sights a little lower. Don't worry about living in the moment. With less than a week to go, you don't have time for that. Instead, your goal should be to survive the moment.

So how're you handling the stress?