Balancing Life and Work During the Holidays

How did Christmas sneak up on us so quickly this year?  With 11 more shopping days left until Christmas Eve I have found myself more behind in planning this year than any prior year, what happened?  Sitting down to reflect on this I realize that I have been pretty busy the past several months and I guess I just thought that I would have more time.  Well there is nothing I can do about only having 11 days left but I have found a few things that I can do that will make my Holidays more enjoyable in the midst of a busy life. 1. I am not going to be a perfectionist this year, time doesn’t allow for it and actually it makes life pretty stressful for me and those who are around me.  I will keep the thought in my mind that my cousin Pino so often repeats ” Tranquillo, tranquillo.” 2. I will not go overboard, enough is enough, more is not better.  Simple can be just wonderful. 3. Share the workload, I will ask for help from those around me as it really is nice to work together making a wonderful dinner and cleaning up, than to be stuck in the kitchen alone while everyone else is having a great time celebrating. 4. Do not bring work home with me and only do what I need to in off hours when it will not interfere with celebration time. 5. Focus on what matters, my family and friends, and when I am with them do not allow myself to become distracted with things that can wait.  Life is so short and this Holiday Season cannot be repeated, it will be different next year and no one knows what tomorrow will bring.  I will enjoy today, be attentive to those around me, and make wonderful memories. “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.”  ~Abraham Lincolnhttp://www.wahm.com/articles/how-to-balance-work-and-family-visitors-during-the-holidays.html