| Is your to-do list too long? Have you done "your" | | | | the kids can be recruited for baking the cookies |
| Christmas shopping yet? What about your baking | | | | or for addressing the Christmas cards. Maybe you |
| and wrapping and card writing? Don't you just | | | | can buy the cookies (gasp!) in a good quality |
| want to scream? Here's what you can do to | | | | store. |
| reduce your stress and have a much happier | | | | 4) Finally: Consider starting a new "easy" holiday |
| Holiday season. | | | | tradition |
| I bet you've heard about the 80-20 principle. | | | | When I grew up in Germany, we always had a |
| According to that rule, 20% of the things we do | | | | special Christmas cake called "Stollen." And here's |
| bring us 80% of the results we get. It works in | | | | what I now see as total brilliance! Not one single |
| sales, it works with learning, and it works with | | | | Stollen was ever baked at my house. |
| getting ready for the holidays too. | | | | My mother baked cookies and was overall quite |
| So here's how you can cut down on your holiday | | | | traditional when it came to Christmas, but Stollen |
| must-do list: | | | | always came from the store. And we received |
| 1) Your to do list is not written in stone | | | | gifts of Stollen too -- all store bought. I have no |
| First of all, you don't HAVE to do everything on | | | | idea if I have even encountered a home-made |
| your list. Chances are you couldn't even if you | | | | Stollen ever. It wouldn't have been very |
| tried. So what to do instead? Cut it in half -- or | | | | cost-effective. |
| less. More about that in a moment. | | | | So start a new tradition and incorporate |
| 2) First item on the agenda: Relax | | | | something like Stollen into your routine -- |
| That's right. Relax. You may think that's the last | | | | something that's not too pricey and delivers a nice |
| thing you can do, but the fact is, your brain and | | | | return for the money (we all loved Stollen and |
| your body will thank you -- and you'll get a lot | | | | Christmas wouldn't have been the same without |
| more done. | | | | it). |
| Why? Stress slows your brain down and it eats | | | | And it easily lends itself to a new tradition. They're |
| up your energy. And you're miserable to boot and | | | | easy enough to find even in the U.S., especially in |
| can even get sick. After all, it will put a big | | | | gourmet stores. In fact, I think I'll pick one up for |
| damper on your immune system, so you're more | | | | the holidays. |
| likely to catch whatever flu virus may come your | | | | Of course, Stollen may or may not be quite right |
| way. And then how effective will you be? | | | | for you, but there's sure to be some new holiday |
| 3) Next item: Cull your list | | | | tradition that will fit the bill. Start by experimenting |
| Now what to do about that to-do list? Take a | | | | with new Family Holiday Traditions that are easy |
| close look and evaluate what exactly you really | | | | on you and yet bring back some of the magic |
| have to do and what you can simply drop. | | | | you may remember fondly from your own |
| Chances are, no one will even notice. | | | | childhood. |
| Also check for items you can delegate. Maybe | | | | |