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Reducing the Holiday Stress If "too much to do and too little time to do it" is a feeling we have throughout the year, it is only intensified during the holidays. The primary goal of this season ought to be enjoying it. Everywhere we look are opportunities to build memories. How can we stay on top of the added responsibilities of the holidays, take advantage of what the season has to offer, and keep the stress level low? Make a list. It works for Santa. The "to-dos" multiply during the holidays. As soon as something occurs to you, add it to the list. When everything you have to do is in one place, you have relief from that awful feeling that you are forgetting something. When it's all in one place, you can make better choices about how to spend the day. Work ahead of deadlines. Not only do the to-dos multiply, they all have to be done within a very limited time frame. Wrapping the presents isn't something that can wait untilDecember 26. Cooking the feast can't wait until the 27th. Prepare the Christmas cards now. Do the shopping now. Opportunities will present themselves. Leave yourself some room in your schedule to take advantage of them. Likewise, a "bombshell" or two is likely to throw a kink in your plans. Staying ahead of the game will allow time to handle what life throws at you. Be a contrarian. Yes, the stores are crowded, but they are not crowded all the time. Shop when others aren't shopping. You save time both at the checkout counter, and in navigating the parking lot and roads surrounding the malls. Call customer service at off-peak hours. When eating out, eat when others aren't eating. Go a little early or wait a little later. Contrarians spend less time waiting and get more individual attention. Use checklists. We have certain people for whom we buy gifts every year. Make a list of those people. As you think of gift ideas during the year, jot those ideas beside the names of each person. Buy gifts throughout the year and check them off on the list. We have certain events to handle every holiday season, each with its own set of "to-dos." Trap those details. So often, our resistance has little to do with any unpleasantness. Rather, it has everything to do with a lack of clarity about exactly what to do. Evernote is a great place for such information. I have written about the 3 Evernote notebooks you must have. Creating a notebook called "Checklists" provides a place to house the details so they don't fall through the cracks this time next year.  This month on the blog, you will see several posts especially for readers who use paper planners. For social media fans, you will enjoy "What If Mary and Joseph Had Facebook?" Musicians will enjoy "Twas the Night Before Christmas in the Bandroom." We will warn you about some cyber-tricks so you won't be fooled. We will challenge an old adage by showing that money can buy happiness, depending on how you spend it. We end the month with help organizing those gift cards you will get for Christmas.