Woody Wonders

I don't know why it comes as such a surprise every year, it is the same date after all, yet all we hear when it gets to December is "I can't believe it's nearly Christmas". We suddenly go into panic mode in relation to presents, trying to see everyone, tying everything up neatly to finish off this year and plan for the next one. Let's be brutally honest, I doubt we will ever change and we will continue to go through this every year.  Time simply runs away from us so let's not beat ourselves up about it.  We can only do so much and we can only do our best with the time and resources we have.   First of all, the best thing you can do is get everything out of your head and into an action list.  Write down absolutely everything that is on your mind. Next job, put everything into categories such as 'Presents', 'Family', 'Food & Drink' and then into sub-categories such as 'Buy present for mum', 'Visit Uncle George', ...

What a wonderful time of year .... right?!! This is an honest, warts and all blog so look away now if you're easily offended. Christmas, a time to show how much you care for your loved ones and spend time with the family.  What could possibly go wrong??  Well in my experience, lots!  I used to get incredibly stressed at this time of year when I was younger, trying to please everyone and rushing round visiting everyone.  Jeez, it's not as if you're never going to see these people again so why do you end up trying to squeeze in visits to 36 people in the space of 3 days.   The fact is that you can't please everyone and it's your time for a break just as much as everyone else's but we don't want to admit that do we, so instead we put our own happiness to one side and focus on everyone else.  Is it any wonder then that by the time Christmas is over we're completely frazzled and burnt out instead of feeling energised and ready to face the New ...