I yell... alot! Then sleep alot, and get more overwhelmed, because I stress myself into depression. I haven't even decorated for Christmas yet! You seem to do well...You can sit back and take a breath! I'll follow your lead! :)

I sit down (usually after everyone else is in bed) with a clipboard and paper. I write out everything that is overwhelming (usually the todo list that seems never ending)me. Then I categorize it, whether it be in a time line, or by what it is. It helps put everything in perspective and it doesn't seem so bad if it is broken down.

Queenie

Good advice, Queenie. Yes, that's what I need to do as well.

I have two close family members in the hospital, unexpectedly. I am trying to finish grading final projects. My daughter has been sick and home from school for two days. I have to work my second job tonight and tomorrow. Stress city! Most of my gifts are done and ready but need to be packaged and mailed.

Will sit down this afternoon with a pad of paper and write myself a list.

Also - it will include time for *exercise* on it, because if I skip exercise my emotions get all out of whack.

Seasonal allergies are killing me.Everytime I step into someone's home to clean ,I am assaulted by the stupid oust things,which I react to instantly.Right now I have to take allergy meds daily to deal with all the stuff I react to.We are still repairing hurricane damage,remodeling a bathroom,and dealing with the unpleasant reality of the rampant shoddy work done by various contracters.My athletic son sprained his ankle this week.Looks as though he will be benched for basketball season.I am overwhelmed with work,and in the middle of training someone to help me.She may actually qualify as the most stupid person on the planet,and she's no Miss Grace either.I have to bite my tongue all day when I work with her.I have a really hard time figuring out which of my many complaints is valid,and which is just an unwillingness to settle for less than perfection.My daughter's financial predicament has become my problem until she gets her next grant check.And the stupid little mutt across the street that bit me through the finger badly enough to send me to the doctor has discovered new ways to free himself of his restraint and has chased me back into my house three times in the last two days(while my eighty pound mutt cowers behind me because he got bit too and now has a fear of small yap yap dogs).And I have about three presents bought and paid for.Two nights in a row I have walked in from work too tired to do anything but cook and clean up dinner and pass out.I have one wall to clean and paint,curtains to hang and a xmas tree to put up in one of the bedrooms sometime this weekend.Tomorrow I work all day for about the eighth weekend in a row,and Sunday is errand day.Sorry for the rant.If anyone out there has some superhuman strenth to send me,let's have it.

I take a walk - even 10 minutes helps. Or, if I don't even have that time, I take three or four deep breaths. Anything to help settle myself down.

Try hard not to yell at the kids. I remember clearly how much I hated the yelling around holidays.

Good luck. I know how overwhelming things get this time of year.

Cupajoe, no superhuman strength here! I finally stopped stressing about Christmas...mostly because I am having some major stress at work. I just decided it will somehow all fall into place. And you know what? It is! I took DD to the mall tonight and we found a few gifts for her picky brothers. It *will* come together, somehow. Good luck to you!

Cupajoe, can you recruit family members for some of what's on your plate (washing walls, putting up tree, etc.)? Sounds like you're taking care of lots of people. Remember that, if you don't take time to replenish the flowers in your own basket, you won't be able to give any to others.

Just reached that point last night, actually. *sigh* So I'm cutting things out...which bums me out, but it has to be done.

1. No christmas baking
2. *Buy* a vest for mom instead of making one
3. Buy any extra gifts
4. Mail friend's gift out late

Maybe next year I'll be more organized...I hope you're less stressed now, Sheryl (and everyone)!

Cupajoe,
I sincerely hope things are looking up for you. I was in your shoes, clothes, and the way it sounds make-up, too, (that is one of my dry jokes) as I have worked each and everyday from September 1st until the present with two days off, one of which is today. I think I went off the over stressed scale at one point. The thought that keeps me going is the promise that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I am getting so strong I need extra strength tylenol, deodrant, etc...(another dry joke). All I can say is hang in there...it will look better after a little rest, when work goes a little smoother (one way or another) and at this point how much worse could it get?
Sus

Yes, Jamie, I am less stressed. For some reason a calmness went over me and I just threw up my hands and said, "Hey, whatever gets done, that's great. If not, oh well." What's ended up happening is that DH has really kicked into gear. He designed and printed our Christmas card and came home with them tonight. I happened to have envelopes that fit them, and I somehow found my long-missing return address stickers. I sat down, addressed envelopes, signed the cards, and our friends and family will get them before Christmas!! I've had some last minute close calls, but all have been solved. For example, I went down to the bus stop to pick up my daughter (I normally don't do that, but felt like it today) and I discovered everyone was donating small gifts to put in a gift basket for the bus driver TOMORROW. No problem. I had just been at the mall and picked up 3 holiday soap pumps from Bath & Bodyworks, just "in case". Ran up the street, grabbed a pump, brought it back down to the bus stop. No, things are calm and running as smoothly as I had hoped, but we are managing and I am not falling apart! (Well, my body is, but that's another story. Am having arm and back problems....argh!)

Jamie, it sounds like you are making wise decisions, too! :)

Sheryl

Sus, those a funny jokes (even if they're dry)--can I steal one or two?

The stress of Christmas, w/ its deadline and its many tasks, has gotten me very good at *jettisoning* things. Some years, I don't do Christmas cards. Distant friend probably think I've dropped them, but I've really just dropped the CARDS.

Good luck, all.

Sus,I know your'e not bold enough for my makeup lol(non,zip,zero over an aging face).Knocked out some shopping,made it through a major portion of the baking,although I still have a ways to go.Have given up on the painted wall.Have gone begging for help with the curtain rod(so far to no avail.sigh,if only there was a way I could hold the drill up for more than five minutes.I've tried and it is just too frustating).Managed to repair the non functioning garbage disposal without calling the handyman,finished two homemade gifts for clients.Here's what's left.Decorating the second tree,grocery shopping for the week,finishing up some xmas shopping,baking two cakes a night for about three more nights,two more batches of biscotti and then shortbread expresso cookies,changing sheets,cleaning bathrooms ,and a once through on the floors with a vaccuum and mop,wrapping gifts,the ever present laundry .Lets see how far I get today.

I'm feeling overwhelmed because my two 5-year-old preschoolers are out of school the whole week before Christmas. I made a list of final shopping, then I broke it down by type of store - department, Target, bookstore, etc. and any my DH and I broke down the list by type of store.

This week, I'm going to try to finish two knit scarves and the second one is close to being done.

DH will need to start helping to wrap gifts every night this week because "some assembly is required."

Karen