The holiday season has begun. From Thanksgiving until New Year's Day most people have numerous family, social and business events to host and attend-not all of them willingly. There are many ways of wading through the myriad of parties, dinners and gift-giving without exhausting every bit of energy and money that one possesses-they may not be popular, but it can be done. Here are but a few ways to unclutter your calendar:
First, realize there are some that are "no-brainers", the ones that if you miss will either put you on the hit list professionally or in the dog house with your family. Those are the ones that you pull out the red sharpie for and underline. After all, if your niece's trip into teenage-hood begins with a family function to beat the band and you're not there, trust me, heads will roll and the guilt will be horrendous. Same will ring true if your boss gives an end of the year soiree and you try to beg off with a migraine. Personally, I'd add (if appropriate) your spouses work obligations. These are the must-go events, so just dust off the party clothes and have a great time-no matter what!
The next functions are the ones you really want to attend. These are the ones where you get to catch up with friends that you were too busy see throughtout 2006. The casual evenings that you get to get into your comfiest clothes, bring your part of the potluck and do not want to leave-swearing that the group will not wait until the end of 2007 to do again. Trust that no matter how much planning is involved, this is the group that in fact will probably not get to have a truly fun evening again until the next holiday season. For this reason, make sure you put time and place in ink on the appropriate dates.
Now we get into the area of social get-togethers that the editing can be worked on. The invitation to attend a cyber-friend's kazoo recital. We all get them and the show is usually an hours drive away, sans traffic. Now unless your kazoo artist buddy drove the same hour to witness your child's elementary school Seasonal Violin Show, DO NOT ATTEND. What is the worst that can happen-you get a few less e-mails? It would be nice to go, it may even be fun-but if what you want to do is cut down on the amount of evenings away from your own hearth and home, this is a definite area to either use pencil in the blank boxes or simply send regrets.
Finally, many people get invitations to neighborhood open houses from people they may only have a nodding acquaintance with or maybe a quick wave through the car window. I also put the co-workers personal needs parties in with this grouping. These are definitely "skippers", the ones you can fudge slightly and say you would have loved to attend, but you've already made other plans. It's not lying-it's no one's business if your plans are to sit at home with whomever you share your existence with and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa or glass of wine.
One of the best ideas for thinning obligations during this time of the year is to make reservations to leave town! When I ran my own business I would simply lock my doors for the week. My husband and I would stay home and just rest. Maybe if finances weren't too strained we'd take a couple of days and enjoy another climate and come back refreshed and ready for the New Year! My sister who is perpetually overrun with parties simply could not stand her children's "gimme" attitude and expectations to be driven to every party in town (and all the gifts that seemed to be required to give and give thanks for) one year. So she and her husband decided as soon as the kids had their end of the year finals that they would pack up and go on a family vacation. They had such a wonderful time, that they made it their family's tradition! It's not that the money is any more or less (it's a draw according to the powers that be), it's just that they drive to the location of their choice and spend some very much needed famly time together and that in itself is the gift of the season.
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