I don’t know about you, but I have definitely descended into the realm of “too much to do and not enough time” that is so much a part of the holiday season.  I know I am not alone; I seriously doubt you could find a woman in the western world who is not sleep-deprived and just a tad stressed (okay, maybe a whole lot stressed!) this time of year.  I certainly don’t have all the answers to a totally relaxed Holiday Season (is there such a thing?) but I do have a few hints and tips that have helped me get through many Christmases with my sanity (just about) still intact. 

1. 1. Write as many cards as possible ahead of time, and start your Christmas letter for the next year on the 25th December this year - If you have a lot of cards and letters to send as I do, make sure you start early.  And to make that Christmas letter a bit easier, start to make notes throughout the year.  If someone takes a great photo, set it aside to scan and include.  Or if your computer makes it possible, actually start the letter and add the digital images as you go along.  I’m definitely going to do this for next year!!! 
   

2. 2. If you have not bought gifts already, buy them on the internet from here on in - Come this time of year, the shops are so packed with frantic shoppers and parking spaces are so scarce, shopping becomes an endurance test.  Most things are available on the internet now, and many companies even gift wrap and ship directly to the recipient.  This is such a time-saver!  (Do be sure to use reputable, recommended companies and sites with secure payment facilities.)
   

3. 3. Prioritize things that are fun and that make memories, like baking cookies with your kids or grandkids - So often, these are the things that get pushed to the end of the list when really they are the most important.  It is easy to get caught up in the frantic expectations of the season and forget that it is the people that are important, not the things.  If your cards are late and your house is not a hundred percent tidy, who cares?  Your kids sure won’t.  Help them to make memories by spending time with them honouring (or creating) family holiday traditions. 
   

4. 4.Consider having your Christmas week groceries delivered - A lot of grocery stores and companies are offering this service now, and even if the delivery charge is fairly steep, imagine how nice it will be not to fight for a parking space only to stand in a line fro the cash register so long that you can hardly see the end of it.  I prefer to choose my own groceries in the shop too, but this time of year, I order them and have them delivered.  It saves so much hassle!
   

5. 5.Mail cards and presents early - Get things in the mail (or to couriers) just as soon as you can.  No one minds things arriving early (don’t forget the “Do Not Open Until Christmas” stickers for presents) and the sooner you send them the more likely they are to arrive safely. 
   

6. 6.Get Some Help or Share Tasks with Friends - If you can afford to get a bit of help here and there (perhaps a cleaning service for a deep clean or having your oven cleaned by a professional) then this is definitely the time to take advantage of that.  If you are feeling the economic pinch as so many families are this year, consider sharing tasks with friends.  Spend an afternoon helping a good friend blitz her house and get it ready for visitors, and she can return the favour the next day by helping you.  More hands always make lighter work.  Or you can trade tasks - perhaps you can clean your friend’s oven in exchange for a few hours babysitting, or she can clean your windows while you use your rug shampooer to clean her hallway.  We are all in the holiday chaos together so we might as well give each other a hand! 
   

7. 7.Remember what is important - I know we all have high expectations at the holidays, but that does not mean you have to drive yourself crazy striving for perfection.  Glossy magazines give us an unrealistic view of what the holidays should be like, with scenes staged in empty houses using people who don’t really live there.  It’s as bad as the airbrushed photos of models and actors these days and just as unreal.  Life is messy and unpredictable, and Christmas can be too.  It can also be an incredible joy, full of memories in the making.  When I remember Christmas with my parents (who have both passed away now), I don’t remember whether the turkey was moist or dry, or what I got as presents, or if our house was tidy or not, I remember the joy of being with them. (I’d sure give a lot to be able to have another Christmas with them, never mind about turkey or presents!)  Don’t lose the joy of Christmas present striving for an unattainable Christmas perfect - every Christmas is precious. 
   

I’m linking this post up to “Works for Me Wednesday” over at We Are That Family.  Do go along for a visit - there are some great hints and tips over there today!