"As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the  same.
" - Donald E.
Westlake The Christmas season begins at sundown on 24 December and lasts through sundown on 5 January.
For that reason,  this season is also known as the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Those twelve days are a special time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the wealth and blessings of our lives and enjoy this special time with friends, work mates, and family members.
Shopping, party planning, gift wrapping, visiting friends and family can also be hectic, confusing, stressful and expensive.
One simple way to insure a more stress free holiday is to decide what you would like from this year's holiday experience.
There are a number of ways to can approach the festivities that will carry you into the New Year renewed, refreshed and fulfilled rather than stressed-out, exhausted and in debt mentally and monetarily.
Expectations are your unique vision of a future state or action, usually unstated but which is critical to your peace and balance.
  During this particular holiday setting unrealistic expectations for yourself or anticipating a particular outcome from others is a common pitfall.
it's important to know that expectations, rational or irrational, valid or invalid, are not developed in a vacuum.
You can't know what the expectation setting is unless you actively search for it and continue monitoring it.
Another common problem is feeling the need to create a perfect celebration, buying the perfect gifts and being sure that you don't forget anyone on the gift list.
We can avoid many of these problems and stressors by identifying what the most important outcomes we want and also what outcomes do we wish to avoid.
"You cannot manage what you don't measure.
" Managed expectations drive your success.
Everything else is secondary.
Prior to committing to attend celebrations that could potentially create problems or stress, or buy presents that would create money stress, by choosing to limit the number of activities and setting a very specific budget for gift giving can really shift your holiday experience from stressful to joyful.
Please be sure to keep up with your daily self-maintenance routine which should include exercise, relaxation,  meditation, vitamins and whatever activity you do to take care of yourself.
  This is the best way to keep your body producing anti-stress hormones.
  These wonderful hormones will assist you to feel healthy, happy and filled with cheer, even during the busiest twelve days of the holiday season! "Christmas, children, is not a date.
It is a state of mind.
" - Mary Ellen Chase