Oh, Christmas. Why is it that I always think you are my favorite time of the year? In reality, the days leading up to the joyous day have me alternating between cowering under the covers hesitant to even face the world, spewing venom and anger for all my frustrations, or maniacally bouncing from one item on my to-do list to another accomplishing nothing.
Instead, this year in an effort to maintain my sanity, I have been saying no to others and myself; I have been switching off the phone when there are tasks to accomplish and sometimes when there's not; I've even been neglecting the social networking that sometimes feels more like work than relief; and I've been doing my very best to ignore the feelings of guilt the first three cause.
Of course, the heavy doses of Christmas music and Mallomars are helping too. And, when things get at their very worst, it never hurts to listen to my 'Cranky Christmas' playlist because sometimes you can just tap out on all the holly jolly.
Cranky Christmas Playlist (on regular holiday rotation since 2007)
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Green Christmas- Barenaked Ladies
Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)- Sufjan Stevens
Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)- Pearl Jam
Mr. Heat Miser- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Nuttin' for Christmas- Smash Mouth
Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)- John Denver
Santa's Beard- They Might Be Giants
You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch- Boris Karloff
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So fill me in. How do you handle the stress and maintain your sanity during the holidays?
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6 comments:
That's what happens when you start listening to Christmas music in October - you get grumpy by Christmas! :) Just kidding.
I maintain my sanity by telling myself that everything is going to be alright. Jonathan helps by repeating that all the time. I tend to worry most about gifts and that we're not getting people enough or spending enough, etc. but I just have to remember that it's okay and people will be happy with whatever tokens we can give them and the thoughts behind them because we definitely are happy with our gifts. I also hope for snow just about every minute of every day... which only works so well here in NC but sometimes paid off in KS. :) Snow makes my heart happy.
I drink.
Kidding.
Wish I wasn't.
I have a running list of must do and then I have a list of want to do. Dad puts up the tree and I decorate it(sometimes it has been only glittery pinecones)other times it is fully loaded. I use lots of artifical green garland and wreaths they say Christmas all alone. I learned to delegate....Dad does nearly all the gift wrapping. big sigh.
I pretty much do the same things every year...it is ever so much easier.....
Most all of our shopping is done on the internet then we can go enjoy the shopping crowds and decorations without the stress.
Many of the things I want to do get left behind.....
Like you, I'm trying hard to learn to say "no," or at least "not now." Even just told my mom it would be okay to celebrate my birthday in January this time instead of December because the month is just too crowded.
I used to hate the holiday too. Now I do less and enjoy it more. So far the only people mad at me are my parents and they've been pissed at me for DECADES so who cares?
Hahaha...nice!
I can't honestly say I've ever felt truly stressed at the Holidays. Probably because I live in a teeny tiny rural town, so there's never anything going on. No Christmas parties, no get togethers, no "have to's". I'm sure that's where a lot of stress comes from...
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