Tis the week before Christmas, we’re all going crazy;
 With so much to do, there’s no time to be lazy.
 Buy presents, hang tree lights, pop cards in the mail,
 Send gift packs, thread popcorn, find turkeys on sale.
Decorations need stringing up all through the house.
 And you haven’t a clue what to buy for your spouse.
 School concerts, receptions, open houses with friends,
 Long lineups, short tempers, tying up the loose ends.

If you were asked to describe the ideal holiday season, chances are you might include the company of loved ones, good food, fun and relaxation, and maybe an inch or two of snow.

It seems so simple, but for many of us, this couldn’t be farther from reality. Too often, the holidays seem to exhaust us rather than uplift us. Do you sometimes feel trapped by the shopping, spending and frenzied preparations?

I think the Grinch said it best, in How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess– “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! ‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.’”

Unfortunately, too many of us get trapped in the chaos of shopping, cooking, and cleaning that we never really slow down and enjoy the season. The heart and soul of the holidays often get lost.

To begin to simplify the holidays, make a list of all the holiday-related tasks you are responsible for. Then, take a critical look at your list. Which activities could you scale back on? Where can you ask for help to make the tasks easier for you and more enjoyable for the family as a whole? Which activities could you cut out altogether? Which activities do you find particularly enriching and worthy of more time and effort?

Here are five things families should consider during the holiday season to simplify and reduce stress:

1. Explore your expectations. Most of us try to do too much during the holidays. Maybe we are striving to achieve the images of a “perfect holiday” that surround us. Or perhaps we are trying to recreate the childhood holiday celebrations of our non-working mothers while we hold down a full-time job. Instead, develop realistic expectations about what you can accomplish so you’ll be able to actually enjoy your holiday experiences.

2. Set your priorities. It can be stressful to accept every invitation, bake every cookie, and buy everything that the children ask for. Prioritizing speaks to quality over quantity.

3. Manage your time wisely. During this season, your time is as important as your finances. Plan ahead– you know from past experience how much time it takes to achieve long-held traditions. Keep a specific holiday “to-do” list and build a gift idea list all year long.

4. Delegate duties. Ask yourself, “who can help me with these tasks?” Enlist the help of family members or share work with friends to make the holidays easier on you. If no one is willing or able to do the extra tasks, maybe that will indicate how important (or not) they are to others.

5. Take time for yourself. Counter the holiday pressures by giving yourself some time for rest and renewal. Remember, this is your holiday, too. Even angels and elves deserve a time to relax! Allow yourself the freedom to receive as abundantly as you give to others.

Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.