#8 Practice Gratitude Everyday.  A recent article in the Reader’s Digest, “How the Science of Thank You can Change Your Life” by Deborah Norville, offers clinical proof of what most happy people have found to be true:  “Practicing gratitude, acknowledging the blessings in our lives and making it a point to recognize the good things can change us positively.”  Dr. Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California and a team of colleagues conducted several studies in which groups of volunteers were asked to focus on one of three things each week: hassles, things for which they were grateful, and ordinary life events.  The results: the people who focused on gratitude were just flat-out happier.  The study found that the people who were consciously grateful:

• Felt better about their lives,
• Were more optimistic,
• Were more energetic,
• Were more enthusiastic,
• Were more determined,
• Were more interested,
• Were more joyful,
• Exercised more,
• Had fewer illnesses,
• Got more sleep,

• Were more likely to have helped someone else

The power of gratitude takes just a few minutes a day.  But it requires consistency and an open mind—and dedication.  It may not come easily, but it can be developed.  Here’s how: Record your thanks.  Take a moment during the day—right before bedtime is usually best—to jot down three things that happened that day for which you are grateful. See the patterns.  Over time, you’ll notice a consistency within the list of items you’re grateful for. Catch the boomerang.  Gratitude, when expressed to others, almost always comes back around. Seize the moment.  Look around you: What’s right with your world?  Practice your hobby, if you have one.  Reach out to others; share something.  All these actions increase your opportunities to feel grateful.

Says Barbara Frederickson, a psychologist at the University of North Carolina, “Gratitude has the potential to change everything from its ordinary state to being a gift.” What better time than the holidays to practice gratitude?  Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas begins, appropriately, on Thanksgiving Day with scriptures, reflections and journal pages that include room to record a gratitude list everyday.  This beautiful book was created to help all its readers find peace and joy throughout the holiday season, and the way to begin is by giving thanks!

#9 Take it One Day at a Time.  This seems an odd piece of advice after Tip #10!  Moms know first hand, however, that flexibility is a part of everyday life.  I’ve lost count of the days I’ve awaken with my to-do list in hand, ready to start checking off tasks, only to have a family emergency, stalled car, or other interruption way lay my plans.  

While planning your holiday festivities, be realistic about what you hope to accomplish on any given day.  Count on the fact that setbacks will come.  Fold extra time into your plan so you’re not stressed when last-minute changes occur.  No matter the setback you encounter, there’s always a hidden opportunity in each—it just depends on how you look at it. 

#10  Plan Ahead.  Years ago we invested in new kitchen cabinets and appliances.  The cabinet installer was one of the slowest workers I’ve ever encountered.  He’d work until he needed a special part and then went to the hardware store.  An hour or so later, he’d return, and work some more until he needed the next part, leave, go to the hardware store, and return.  This cycle was repeated several times daily until the project took three times longer to complete than the original estimate!  It was clear, to put it kindly, that good planning was not one of his gifts! 

We can learn something from the cabinet installer when it comes to the holidays. I’m sure ours weren’t the first cabinets he ever installed, so he could have used past experience to put together a list of parts and materials he’d need, and in what order, to expedite the process.  We’ve been through the holidays before, so we can revisit Christmases past and determine a plan for this year.

One of the first rules of good planning is to start with the end in mind; that is, have a clear idea of your goal.  What does a Great Christmas look like to you?  Set aside a block of time and envision the Great Christmas you’ll have with those you love.  Now, pull out your calendar, a pen and a pad of paper and write down your description.  Talk with family members and get their input, too.

Next, draft a list of actions to achieve your Great Christmas.  Looking at your calendar, plan backward from Christmas Day, setting small deadlines for yourself for all the projects and activities you intend to do.  Schedule time for shopping, cooking, social activities, and for yourself.  Get detailed! Break it down to daily to-do lists if you can.  Remember, the more you separate the projects into small, manageable tasks, the less overwhelmed you’ll be.

Now, sit back and review your list.  You’ve worked hard to put it together, but now comes the tough part!  Prioritize the projects and activities.  Take a hard look at the ones that fall toward the bottom of your list.  Are they really essential to a Great Christmas this year?  Make sure you’re directing your energies toward and focusing on the priorities.  For the sake of reducing your stress level, give yourself permission to narrow your list to the most important items! 

Here’s a story to illustrate what I mean.  My birthday is in December, and my mother will tell you it was the best Christmas she can remember.  My siblings sigh when she says it, but her comments have nothing to do with favoritism and everything to do with practicality!  Her doctor suggested she get all her Christmas preparations done ahead of time; the baby would arrive during the holiday season.  Mom took his advice, and brought her new baby home to a decorated house, with closets that hid treasures ready for Christmas morning.  She knew her priorities, and everything fell into place behind them.

We’re preparing for a special baby’s birth, too.  Plan ahead!  Now is the time to collect your thoughts, make a list, check it twice, and start working your plan for a Great Christmas!