Enjoy The Festive Season

Too stressed out to get any fun at the end of the year? Mary Jo Rulnick, co author of 'The Frantic Woman's Guide To Life', gives Primrose Monteiro-D'Souza some tips on chilling out about Christmas and the New Year

You could sleepwalk through the season with our easy guide

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, half the world does and of course, New Year cannot be wiped off the calendar. But what if you're not a regular party animal, and view the season with trepidation? A Frantic Woman knows how to handle the situation. "As women, we are always trying to make everyone's holiday the best it can be," avers Mary Jo Rulnick, co author of 'The Frantic Woman's Guide To Life'. "One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to prepare ahead of time so that we are able to spend some time enjoying the festivities. In order to do that, make a list of priorities. On this list include everything from meals you must prepare for company to sending out greeting cards to selecting the holiday wear for the family.

Mark a number one by the items that must be finished as soon as possible. Those are your top priority. Start crossing things off your list by accomplishing at least one of those to-do items daily. I like to write on the calendar each task I will accomplish on that day. I can see what I need to do for the day ahead and the week ahead. And I never waste time thinking, 'What's next?' or 'What should I be doing now?' ''

Be Smart

Take a day or two of leave as soon as you can, and get a lot of stuff outta the way; this way you will be cool at work when everyone else is frazzled and begging for leave towards year end. On that count, also ask for your actual leave today, if you haven't already.

Get Prepared

Early in December, advises Mary Jo, make several extra dinners to tuck in the freezer for the nights that making dinner will be almost impossible. "For example, double up a batch of soup or a casserole for later. Keep several meal ingredients in stock."

Work The Wardrobe"Next, I like to have the holiday outfits, from head to toe, selected," reveals Mary Jo. "It saves some last-minute frustration."Also recognise that the season will bring a certain number of occasions when you will need to dress up and prep appropriately. We don't mean go all out and blow up a lot of moolah, though retail therapy does tend to ease your distress relatively (until the bills arrive); just de-clutter your closet and work out combinations that will work. And if you're a true Femina girl, you're sure to have brilliant pieces just waiting to be worked...

Gift Shopping

Hit the shops every evening up till when you need to do the handover and work off your list. Don't stress yourself about the packing - either go to the local wholesale market and get a dozen pack of wrapping paper or do brown paper wrap with accents - a potato print, a little bell hanging off the string... And yes, if you find a good gift, feel free to buy it for several unrelated people..."I like to take one day, and watch a movie or two while I'm wrapping the gifts," says Mary Jo and then reveals how she takes it all one step further: "Once the gifts are wrapped, I use them as decorations around the house and not just under the tree. I'll stack several boxes, larger ones at the bottom, on a chair with a big bow on top, or as a gift tower on a coffee table. Others I'll situate in a toy wagon with a stuffed animal or two..."

Get The Greetings Out Of The Way

Again, the best thing to do is buy greeting cards in bulk, and start writing them out today. Of course, you could also send e-mail greetings (www.hallmark.com and www.holidaynotes.com have our favourites), but keep in mind that traditionalists and older people like the feel of a card in hand.

Party Prep

There will be parties at year end. Some of them you will have to go to. Factor that into the work schedule and slog a bit more at the beginning of the month.

(Schedule reading the How To page of Femina next issue for more tips on this.)

Throwing The Obligatory Do

Cut the stress, girl! If your party's for friends; they know your house - and your mess - anyway, so why work yourself up with getting everything just right? Restrict the party area to the main room, make sure the sofa's looking really good, stash the clutter away, add a few holiday accents and dolly up the loo with candles and hand towels.

"Decide how many evenings you will be entertaining and who," advises Mary Jo. "Plan what you will be having, where and how you will be serving it (buffet or sit-down), how many people there will be, and where everyone will sit. If you need to borrow chairs, tablecloths, or serving pieces, ask for assistance now." And don't think of this as hostess diva time; work with ready finger foods; add your personal garnishes - a dip for the chips, a bit of parsley over the mashed potato canapés. And girl, go with the global flow - allow your guests to bring food and drink over if they offer.

Indulge Yourself

Says Mary Jo, "Include at least one outing that you will enjoy - be it a musical, a movie night, or a lunch with the girls. This will give you something to look forward to and you won't feel as if you've spent the entire month of December fulfilling one commitment after another. The best tip I can give is to check as much off your list as early in the month as possible. Once you have the 'big things' off your list, you'll be able to enjoy Christmas and New Year's because you had a chance to relax in the days before the holiday instead of running around like a mad woman."

More...Mary Jo Rulnick is a freelance journalist and co author, with Judy Burnett Schneider, of 'The Frantic Woman's Guide To Life: A Year's Worth Of Hints, Tips And Tricks'.

Check out www.franticwoman.com for more fun ways to get on with lifeGOT COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? E-MAIL US AT femina@timesgroup.com WITH 'HOW TO - ENJOY THE FESTIVE SEASON' IN THE SUBJECT LINE.