You don't have to be superwoman to be calm at Christmas!

Less than two weeks to Christmas...

How're you doing?

With SOXS as a significant focus this festive season, I've been focussed on my own preparations, my reactions and feelings in a different way this year.

It's been an extremely busy couple of months, and I knew I had to fit Christmas in there somewhere, but I was very aware that above all, I wanted to enjoy it this year.

I have become more watchful of my thoughts and reactions than I ever have before.  I have become more deliberate in my responses rather than just reacting.  And this has made a monumental difference to how I cope, how I feel and how my family react around me.

The biggest difference I have noticed is that when I am calm and in control, and responding rather than reacting, my children are all calmer and more friendly and happy (not a small feat with two teens in the house!).

Here's how I am doing it:

• making lists and checking them often - gift lists, shopping lists, task lists, ideas lists, menus and entertainment planning lists... all in one place in a spiral bound notebook that also has 4 note pockets in it for keeping receipts, printouts, etc - and that is with me at all times.  Two reasons to keep it with me - first is so that when I have an idea or remember something I need to do, I can jot it down immediately; second is so the kids cannot see what I have got them for Christmas!
• writing down every little commitment in my diary - if it's not there, it's NOT happening!
• asking myself with every invitation or commitment request - is this something I want to do? and is this the best use of my time right now?  Honesty is the key factor here
• taking care of me as a major priority (massages, time out, eating well, sufficient sleep and saying no... )
• doing a significant amount of my shopping on-line or by phone.
• enlisting help whenever possible and playing to each family member's strengths - Gorgeous Girl put up and decorated the Christmas Tree happily, she's also wrapped (beautifully) a lot of gifts and they are looking stunning under the tree... Captain Scarlett, who is learning to drive, has become a great help in taxiing me when I am tired (this is a real win, win - but I still cannot wait until he has his license and can collect his brother and sister by himself!)
• not allowing my mind to go into overload.  I will not accept a thought that tells me I have too much to do, and will never get it all done. I immediately turn that around to "There is plenty of time, and everything that needs to get done, will get done!"  I am refusing to get stressed, and it appears to be working well.

Here's my challenge to you - should you choose to accept it:

Check in on how your thinking is affecting your enjoyment of the last two weeks before Christmas...

Check whether you are responding or reacting in each moment... this could mean the difference between calm and chaos.

Remember that December 25 will come around right. on. cue.  Regardless. And before you know it, it will be 2007 - it will all be over for another year.

Are you wishing your life away, wanting to simply survive the next two weeks?  What can you change to stop that and enjoy every moment?