Winding Down the Year and Staying Sane

As much progress as we've all enjoyed from this end-of-year challenge, I'm ready to be done and start something new. I was getting excited thinking of a new desk calendar, I'm so ready.

But until then, I'm just trying to keep my sanity and make the most of the days that are left in THIS year.

Here are a few things we've done that can help:

1. Instead of being tempted to provide the ultimate Christmas for your kids (and going into more debt), take some pressure off. We started celebrating St. Nicholas' Day on December 6 by giving the young one a moderately-priced gift to be shared. This helps enforce the spirit of giving and sharing. This year, I admit, we spent more than normal on the new Tony Hawk game with skateboard controller for our PlayStation. But I guarantee it'll the feet of all the neighbor kids, plus us, in just a few days. Some families have also adopted Hanukkah, giving their kids 8 smaller gifts, which reduces kids' "what am I getting?" mentality.

2. Find a way to volunteer. We rang the bell for a Salvation Army kettle for four hours last Saturday. My ears are still ringing, but it was fun and we were able to focus on what we could do to help other people. Food banks and Christmas Angel programs need volunteer helpers, too, this time of year.

3. Lots of friend-based get-togethers over the holidays have gone to a Secret Santa or White Elephant gift exchange. With the economy still so unpredictable, it's a lot less stressful to buy one gift than half a dozen. The same works for extended families, too. Yes, you could buy a gift for every niece and nephew, or just trust that Santa, parents, and grandparents will provide more than enough for young materialists. This economy is a great teaching time, BTW.

4. If you have time available and are moderately skilled, go home-made. Bake treats - everyone loves something freshly baked. Get crafty - stock up on fleece throws, cut them in squares, and make a real bed-sized quilt. Knit, crochet, sew, get out the woodburning kit and make a sign ... whatever you know how to do. Be warned, a lot of these projects take a lot longer than you'd think. You might want to get supplies at the after-Christmas sales and start in January for next year.

5. Don't quit working on your goals. Yes, there tends to be more going on in the last days of the year, but if you've planned well, you can handle it. There's no excuse for slacking, unless you're sick. But you may have to reframe the steps you normally take. You might not have time for the gym, but a 2-hour, relatives-are-coming-today house-cleaning frenzy burns a LOT of calories, so you're good.

6. Always take time to relax. Even if you have to schedule it in, make sure you have time to sit down with a cuppa and just watch TV or play video games or read a book or take a hot bubble bath.