By Sheila Roberts
Author, "On Strike for Christmas"

Let me tell you, raising three kids, there were many times when I was ready to go on strike for Christmas. Of course, this might have had something to do with the fact that I was a holiday overachiever, a Martha Stewart wannabe. I would bite off too big a holiday chunk and then wonder why I was choking! I still remember one Christmas when we were driving over the river and through the woods (well, more like into the city) to visit godparents, aunts and uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins — you name it — and drop off presents. The kids were in the back seat whooping it up, my husband had Christmas songs playing on the car radio. Things weren’t so merry in my corner of the car. I was frantically putting the final touches on a homemade Christmas stocking for my godfather. We hit a bump in the road and I stabbed myself with a needle. I won’t tell you what I said, but let me assure you, it wasn’t, “God bless us, every one!” Now I look back on those wild and crazy times and the edges are all hazy and the picture is rosy. (You know, kind of like how we women get after giving birth.) I can do that because the crazy days are gone. Well, mostly. I ripped that big red S off of my chest and decided that, if I was going to enjoy the holidays, I needed to take time to BREATHE! Going on strike for Christmas works fine in the movies (and it’s even fun!), but it’s a little hard to pull off in real life. So let me save you from having to resort to such desperate measures.

Here are some tips on how to make your holidays merry and bright . . . without going on strike.

1. Save Your Sanity and Plan Ahead … … for some “Silent Nights.” Reserve a few days on your calendar for downtime. Put a big X through those dates and don’t accept any invitations or make commitments for them. Instead, stay home and recharge your batteries. Take a bubble bath, read a good book (by Sheila Roberts), listen to music, and contemplate the reason for the season.

2. Delegate You don’t have to do it all. Let family members take a more active part in decorating and baking. You can supervise from the couch while enjoying some eggnog (and watching “On Strike for Christmas”).

3. Delete Lose the holiday chores that stress you out. Will the world really come to an end if you don’t send out Christmas cards this year? We have Facebook and Twitter. We’re already in touch!

4. Party While You Work Get together with friends to make those home-crafted gifts and wrap presents. (You can share craft and wrapping supplies — twice the variety for half the price.) The work may not get done faster, but you’ll have fun.

5. Leave Town Take a holiday cruise. Then the only shopping you’ll have to do will be in those cute shops in your ports of call. Can’t afford a cruise? Find a motel with an indoor pool. Or heck, invite yourself to Mom’s!

6. Buy Less Resist the urge to pile a ton of presents under the tree. You’ll steer your family away from rampant greed and you’ll reduce that mountain of shopping and wrapping down to a manageable size.

7. Bake Less Cut down on the cookie production. You’ll get out of the kitchen quicker and have less weight to lose after the holidays. Have a cookie exchange with friends — one baking binge, but lots of variety.

8. Try a Trade You love to bake; your friend loves to decorate. Do a trade. You’ll both have fun, and everything will get done.

9. Hire Elves Spend money instead of energy: Hire help for the holidays. Students home for Christmas break will love a chance to earn money stringing lights for you or vacuuming your house.

10. Give Yourself a Bonus There’s nothing like a Christmas bonus to ward off a strike. Treat yourself to afternoon tea with a friend, a chick-flick night (and yes, you know what movie I’m recommending!) or a manicure. It will do wonders for your attitude. And if you get your nails done, it will do wonders for your holiday look!