How to Handle December

Did you ever notice around Thanksgiving people start saying, "after the holidays?" It might be a business project a lunch date, cleaning the garage or anything else that you want to put off. December provides the perfect alibi. Procrastination may be the reason or it might be a result of that frazzled feeling that comes with the enormous expectations this season carries with it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Christmas morning Realize how much gets thrown at you in December: Christmas, with all the trimmings, food, parties, presents and celebrations; non-Christmas is what people who don’t celebrate deal with—-what to do with themselves while everyone else is celebrating; the end-of-year and New Year stuff—office parties, bonuses or lack thereof, football, travel and those uneasy feelings of “another year gone by. What did I accomplish?”
2. Remember that once upon a time, most of us believed in Santa Claus. In much of what we do around this holiday, there’s fantasy, a desire to be transported, temporarily at least, out of our mundane existences to a place where dreams come true, if not for us, for the children in our lives.
3. Keep in mind that all the expectations may cause many of us some level of disappointment. Suicides increase in December. So, the important thing is be realistic. Don’t overdo anything-—food, drugs, shopping, alcohol, social engagements or other commitments.
4. Go shopping with a list and a budget! This works much better than having a few random thoughts in mind. Remember the Internet! You may be able to shop without leaving home.
5. Entertain a few people at a time several days in a row. Once you’ve cleaned and decorated the house and baked cookies, most of the work is done, so invite a few people from, say 6 to 8 p.m. each night for a few nights in a row. You’ll actually get to talk to your guests without the exhaustion of a big party, when the hosts rarely have a conversation with anyone!
6. When preparing food for your guests, always offer some healthy, low-cal items such as veggies, shrimp or fruit. Also, have some nonalcoholic drinks, including coffee and tea.
7. Don’t buy the idea that you have to do or buy everything. Last year, this writer’s family agreed to cut back on the amount of gifts given, it didn’t have any impact on the amount of fun. Everyone had become a bit numb with the hours of gift opening and appreciating.
8. Find some quiet time. A few meditative moments may help us realize what is on our agenda that doesn’t need to be, or that could be moved—hence all those people who say “Later, man.” There may never be peace on earth, but we may find some peace in ourselves if we take the time to find it. It’s worth the effort.

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