Coping with the Silly Season - Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Just like eating well, sleep is an essential ingredient for coping with stress.  If you have some late nights with Christmas celebrations, make sure you have some early nights to balance it out.

Merry Christmas everyone xx

Coping with the Silly Season - Y - You're NOT Perfect - Accept It

No Matter how hard you try, you will drop the ball sometime between now and Christmas.  Let go of perfectionism, and accept that it happens to the best of us.  Nobody cares if your house is not House and Garden tidy, or your 'bring a plate' ia a store bought packet of biscuits.  Work to your strengths and let the other stuff go.

Coping with the Silly Season - X - Explore Possibilities

Just because you have always done things a certain way, doesn't mean it has to be that way forever.  If this time of year really gets the better of you - think about how you can do things differently.  A few people might get their feathers ruffled in the beginning, but let that be their problem - not yours.

Coping with the Silly Season - W - Work Flexi-Hours

Sometimes it's not that I haven't go time, it's that I haven't got time right at that moment!  This is particularly true for me in the lead-up to Christmas, when everything seems to happen at once.

If you don't do it already, ask if you can work flexi-hours, even if it's just for the month of December.  This will help you juggle work and family commitments more easily, and you'll be far more productive when you are in the office.  I always achieve much more when I'm not stressing about where else I should be.

Coping with the Silly Season - V - Visual Reminders

How often do we hear 'Remember What Matters' and how often do we forget?  Make a big poster to hang on the wall of your office or kitchen, so you can continually remind yourself of what really matters in your life.  It's easy to get caught up in the stress and pressure of Christmas, and a visual reminder is a simple way to get yourself back on track.

Coping with the Silly Season - U - Use Technology

Whether at work or at home, there is technology available to make you r life easier.  Use it.  Order gifts online.  Avoid the supermarket and get groceries online.  Put the answerphone on.  Send out Holiday Greetings via Facebook.

Coping with the Silly Season - T - To-Do Lists

I am a big 'to-do' list maker at any time of the year, but at Christmas time they really are my saving grace.  At this itme of year I make three seperate lists:  One for things I need to do in the office, one for things I need to do at home, and one for things I need to do while I am out and about.  My out and about list is divided in to 'locations', so whenever I am in that area of town I can get everything on the list done at once.

Coping with the Silly Season - S - Schedule Uninterrupted Time

Both at home and in the office, schedule one hour each day of uninterrupted time.  Close the door, turn off the phone, and do whatever else you need to do, so you can get things done without interruption.

For me, the first hour in the office is uninterrupted time, and at home, it is scheduled differently depending on the day.

Coping with the Silly Season - R - Realistic Expectations

While we would all love the movie-version of a family Christmas with all the trimmings, for some of us it's just not going to happen.  Try not to focus on other people's expectations, and get real about how Christmas will be for you and your family.  The trick is to celebrate what you have and not wish for what you haven't - and not just in a material sense.

Coping with the Silly Season - Q - Quit Complaining

Everyone knows you're busy, tired and stressed - chances are they are busy, tired and stressed too.  Instead of focussing on the negatives, consciously look for the positive in every day.  By all means be tired, but make sure you are tired AND something else.  Tired and excited.  Tired and grateful.  Tired and enthusiastic.  What you say has a big impact on how you feel.

Coping with the Silly Season - P - Plan Ahead

Let's face it, we all know how crazy this time of year can be, but we still act surprised when the craziness hits.  There's still a month until Christmas, so start planning and do some of the simple things ahead of time.

Coping with the Silly Season - O - Out-of-Office Reply

If at all possible, load your email out-of-office reply a couple of days before your Christmas holidays begin.  The writers will assume you have already left for your Christmas break, and won't be expecting a reply until you get back.  This gives you a chance to complete any important or urgent tasks, without being bogged-down by things that can wait.

Coping with the Silly Season - N - No, No, No

Don't be afraid to say no.  Say no to Christmas parties, say no to working late, say no to last minute catch-ups with people who think everything needs to happen before Christmas.  Remember Christmas is a season, and in New Zealand, it carries right through till the end of January.  Make a plan to fit everything in over the whole holiday period - not just a few weeks in December.

Coping with the Silly Season - M - Money, Money, Money

Nothing causes more stress than money worries.  If you haven't done so already, make a realistic budget for Christmas, and then stick to it.  Make sure you include the hidden extra costs like petrol (for all the Christmas running around), food (for 'bring a plates'), gas for the BBQ and toilet paper (for all those extra guests).

Coping with the Silly Season - L - Lead by Example

I know this is sometimes easier said than done, but if you want your family and colleagues to get through the silly season feeling calm and relaxed, then you need to show them how its done.  If you feel like you are getting tetchy under pressure, take some time for yourself and work out what's going on.  Take deep breaths and prioritise your workload.  If you find yourself snapping at whoever walks through your door - take action and close the door!

Coping with the Silly Season - K - Keep it Fun

Even with busy workloads, you can still make your workplace fun.  Make an effort to put up some Christmas decorations, bring in some yummy morning tea, and wear a Santa hat if you need to.  Take little, inexpensive actions to instil some Christmas spirit in the daily grind.

Coping with the Silly Season - J - Joint Celebrations

While its nice to organise a Christmas Party for everyone involved with your organisation, it's not necessary to organise separate celebrations for every group of people.  Why not organise a joint celebration for all your programmes, donors, and supporters.

Not only will this save on time and expense, it is a great opportunity for the whole organisation to come together.  Donors can meet the people they support.  Members from one programme can meet members from another.  Supporters can learn aspects of your organisation that they might not otherwise hear about.

Win-win-win!

Coping with the Silly Season - I - Identify Your Triggers

You have been through this time of year many times before, so there's every chance you know what triggers your stress.  Identify your triggers before they happen, and have a plan to either avoid them or manage them.  Trying to figure it out in the heat of the moment just won't work.

Coping with the Silly Season - H - Holiday Focus

When you are on holiday, BE on holiday.  Resist the urge to check emails, or catch up on paperwork.  If you want to be truly effective when you return to work, you need a proper break.

Coping with the Silly Season - G - Get Moving

When life gets busy, it's easy to make excuses about not exercising because it feels like you don't have the time.  Trust me - if you keep exercising, you will be so much more productive in the time you do have.