It's December. Everyone is stressed out. Holiday parties, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, baking baking baking, family coming, do this do that...AAAAAGGGGGHHHH!
You know my big secret? The holidays don't stress me out at all. Everyone else is running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and all I can think of is that I have two weeks coming up with no cheer practice. What does that translate to? Time to get stuff done!
Now don't get me wrong...I still haven't gotten my Christmas letter written (it's kind of famous now for being really funny so there is some pressure to repeat), and therefore I haven't gotten my cards out yet. I may end up sending out New Year's cards instead of Christmas cards, but hey, they'll get done.
But I find myself saying things little white lies to my friends: "I know the holidays are super stressful, but can we fit in lunch sometime?" or "I know you're SUPER busy right now but maybe we can work in a quick visit?" When in reality, I'm pretty much totally ready for Christmas and I'm just sitting around waiting for everyone else to be ready so I can play with my friends!
I think what helps the most with this is:
1) my family has never been huge gift givers. We feel like the spirit of Christmas is spending time with each other and doing service, instead of buying
lots & lots of expensive gifts. So my gift list is small.
2) I shop all year for the "perfect" gifts, and the good bargains. By the time October rolls around I'm usually done with my Christmas shopping.
3) I LOVE the look of wrapped presents. I'm usually done with my gift-wrapping by the first of November because I love to look at pretty packages.
The thing that really stresses me out about the holidays is that we WON'T have Red Squad (competition team) practice for two weeks, and then we come back and compete a week later! But I'm going to try to NOT focus on that part, enjoy the time off, spend some much-needed down time with my family, and even open a few presents. Have a wonderful, low-stress holiday season!