When you think about Christmas, what do you feel?

Do you feel overwhelmed and just a little bit stressed at everything you have to do? Or do you feel excited at the idea of spending time with friends and family?

My best Christmases have always been when I’ve been organised, prepared and more importantly, when I didn’t leave everything right up until December.

Here are a couple of things to consider so that you have an organised Christmas this year:

Your vision for a great Christmas

Decide, together with your family, if you want to celebrate with many spiritual activities, spend time at home with just your immediate family, do lots of baking, etc.

Christmas cards

Will you be sending cards by themselves, or with a family newsletter? Or will you be sending cards at all? Do you have a list of recipients?

Christmas gifts

Will you be giving gifts this year? Are you making any gifts or are you buying them all? Do you have a gift-giving budget? Remember to budget for gift wrap, gift tags and, if necessary, postage to your loved ones who live in a different city.

Christmas Day

Where will you spend the day – with your parents or his? Or will the family gather at your house? Who will cook the food? Which recipes will you use? Do you know where to find them?

How far in advance should you plan?

Well, that depends on how much stress you can tolerate! Personally, I like to have gifts done by the end of October and cards by mid-November. That’s because I really don’t enjoy the stress of having to get the perfect gift with no time to spare. Add to that the crowded malls and you can practically see my blood pressure rising!

I like to start planning at the beginning of October and I set myself mini-goals of compiling my card list first, then planning backwards so I write out a certain number of cards per week until they’re all done by my self-imposed due date. I do the same for gifts. I also wrap a few gender-neutral gifts just in case someone pops around with something for me.

It’s relaxing for me to prepare a beautifully-wrapped gift with a gift tag because I believe that presentation is part of the gift. Something I do that has saved me lots of money is I no longer buy Christmas gift wrap. Instead, I buy red and green coloured craft paper and matching ribbon. I can use the paper year-round with a different bow so that it doesn’t look Christmassy for birthday gifts.

This year, get organised for Christmas so you can welcome the season instead of dreading it.

On a scale of 1 – 10, how are you doing with Christmas prep right now?

One of the most common goals my clients tell me about is that they want more time.

If you can relate, I have good news for you – if you put just one of these tips into practice, you will save hours every week:

1. Learn to say no

Saying no helps you set strong boundaries.

What do you have to say no to so that you can say yes to your goals this year?

2. Play to your strengths

With everything in life, I believe you should play to your strengths.

If you’re terrible at cleaning your house, hire a cleaning lady. If you’re not great at organising, hire a professional organiser.

3. Learn to prioritise

When you know how to prioritise, even if you only get one or two things done daily, they will always be the right things and not just busy work.

4. Set up systems

Systems save you space, time, energy, money and stress.

Meal planning is a system for organising and preparing meals. Regular computer back-up is another system to keep your computer running smoothly.

What kinds of systems can you put in place?

5. Work smarter

Group tasks so that you only do preparation ONCE. Make your client calls all at the same time. You’ll be on a roll, get through them a lot faster and save energy because you don’t have to get into phone mode more than once.

Make your work do double duty. If you type a certain type of email often, make an auto text entry and save the template. If you write a comment on a blog, expand that same comment and write a blog post of your own.

Don’t get overwhelmed – work on just one of these tips consistently until it becomes a habit and keep adding another until you have it all mastered.

Marcia Francois is a time management and business organising coach who helps small business owners make the most of their time. Visit http://organiseyourbusiness.com for your free 7-part audio series, 7 tips for time-strapped business owners.

Here’s this week’s question:

What’s your favourite room in your house?

Mine? My study, because it is the sunniest room and I love light, there’s a reading chair and my desk is exactly how I like it

Over to you!

Attention:
Fabulous, Phenomenal Women who are ready to live their best lives

• Are you tired of feeling blah and frumpy?
• Do you know deep down you’re destined for greatness?
• Did you have big ideas for your life and you can’t quite remember where and when you got off track?
• Do you forget where Mom ends and ________ (insert your own name) begins?
• Do you just need a loving push to get started again?

It’s time to come out of hiding and shine!

You know you’re fabulous but there are a few tweaks you’d like to make in order to live your absolute best life.

Well, this is your chance!

Read more about how you can come out of hiding and be the superhero of your own life

Wait!

If you’re in Johannesburg or Pretoria, you get to have me LIVE and IN-PERSON

I’m looking forward to a low electricity bill.

I know it’s boring but we had a crazy high bill from the City of Joburg a few months ago (R9881) which has just been settled and I’m looking forward to not needing heaters, electric blankets, etc.

On a more fun note, I’m looking forward to seeing the babies’ little legs in shorts again. And is there anything cuter than baby toes?!

What are you looking forward to?

I really want to connect more with you guys so I thought I’d start something new on the blog – a question of the week.

So, without further ado, here’s this week’s question:

Do you keep birthday cards?

If yes, how long?

I only keep birthday cards if the person wrote a personal message to me that was particularly meaningful.

I keep them out for about a month or until the clutter starts annoying me, whichever comes first Then into my memory box…

How about you?

I spent this last week travelling to two cities here in South Africa doing some speaking and you know what I realised?

That people really are the same everywhere.

In Johannesburg, we like to say those in Cape Town are more laid back and they, of course, think we run around like headless chickens.

I think both of us are right

Of course, those from Durban would never survive these tough Jhb winters whereas I literally wilt in their heat. I did find the Durban drivers extremely courteous though

Based on what some of the ladies at the talks came to chat to me about afterwards, I can honestly say that people all over (the world) have the same difficulty in saying no to requests for their time, energy and help.

So I’m really, really looking forward to sharing with you in this week’s teleclass how to say no without feeling guilty.

Are you joining me?

This teleclass is priced so low it’s practically free. I’ve done it like this so that it won’t be a barrier for anyone.

Will you be on the call on Thursday?

Read more to see if this class could help you

As always, I’ve picked the best time of day for MOST people in the world…. BUT if the time doesn’t suit you, you will have the downloadable recording in your inbox within 24 hours.

Do you know how to say no without feeling guilty?

Do you struggle to say no, even when you know you should?

Or if you are able to say no, do you feel guilty for ages afterwards?

Join me for a teleclass on Thursday 22 July to finally learn exactly how to say no without feeling guilty.

I will show you how in a comfortable, step-by-step, manner that won’t make you squirm or cringe inside.

Date and time Thursday 22nd July at 1 PM EST (7 PM South African time)

(If you can’t make the time, the recording will be available within 24 hours)

Book your place now

What do you find most difficult about saying no?

P.S. If the link is not clickable, type http://tinyurl.com/saynoteleclass into your browser

My babies turned 1 on Wednesday.

My husband and I were very undecided as to whether we wanted to have a party or not (him, because he doesn’t like crowds and me, because I don’t like mess ) but then we decided to do it because, well, we survived the first year!

As a friend wrote on my Facebook status update, that’s the worse of the sleep deprivation behind you. And I said, “amen to that!”

Anyway, I thought I’d share some things that worked well, and also those that didn’t, in the hope that this list will help someone out there.

Decide on exactly what you want and stick to your plan

Not only is there less stress when you know what you want (and more importantly, what you don’t want) but the focus helps you “see” your theme everywhere.

We knew that we wanted a small and intimate party and that made it easy to decide on a small number of people. We also decided on a polka dot theme and I saw suitable foods, etc. everywhere – marshmallows, cupcakes, Salticrax with toppings, etc.

Decide on a budget

This is the part I did very well. And I still could have done better (see food story below).

I planned everything beforehand and was not swayed when I got to the party store as I had my list and knew I only needed x, y and z

I normally don’t like the “waste” of paper plates and polystyrene cups but felt it was a necessity to save me time and energy later.

Get creative

Google is my best friend!

I googled ideas and found beautiful, beautiful parties by much more creative people than I am, or ever will be.

But they inspired me to get a little bit more creative than I would normally be.

Also, ask your friends for ideas – you’ll be surprised at what pops up.

Make a gift list

We didn’t have one initially because we really didn’t want people to feel obliged to buy two of everything or even one bigger item but after about 3 – 4 requests within hours of my email invitation going out, we got cracking.

Even so we only had about 4 items on the list – clothes and the sizes they currently wear, baby hot water bottles and some age appropriate toys.

Yes, a gift list can seem a bit mercenary but it seems my friends are super-practical and the babies were blessed with some fantastic gifts that are SO useful.

Don’t over cater

I sucked big time at this. I love food and I hate to run out so I had STACKS. Literally. Only 4 people were not able to come at the last minute but still, STACKS of food left over. Yes, I handed out food parcels but my freezer and fridge are still full of food.

(I have a thing against throwing away perfectly good food when there are so many needy people so that is not an option).

Accept help – don’t feel the need to be Super woman

Asking for help is not my strong suit at all.

But I soon realised that just running around after my two would mean I wouldn’t be able to socialise with my friends or be as hospitable as I’d have liked.

I got our nanny in to help us with the babies and in between running around, she also helped with washing dishes!

My MIL baked a yummy pudding and my SIL baked cupcakes so that I could focus on baking the small cakes for the babies.

Confession - I did microwave cakes as I didn’t see the need to do a proper baked cake for kids who would eat maybe a fistful or two

My children don’t ever eat sugar and this was the first time they were allowed some – individual chocolate cakes with a caramel topping. They didn’t know what came over them but (Connor especially) just DOVE into the cake. Too funny!

One of the best things we did was

Put up a Happy Birthday banner and balloons on the gate. It helped guests find our house easily once they were in the street.

While party planning is still fresh in my mind…

Please share your best things to do and not to do so I can be well prepared for next year

This week, I want to give you a good, old, coaching challenge.

Are you up for it?

1. Grab a piece of paper and a pen.
2. Make a list of all your different roles in life. For example, wife, mother, sister, manager, church committee member, friend, blogger, etc.
3. Circle the one that you feel needs some work.
4. Write down 3 concrete actions you can take (the smaller the better so you don’t get overwhelmed)
5. Post your actions in the comments. Go on – I dare you

Not all stress is bad.

I know, I know, tell that to the knots in your back

To a certain extent, stress works for us. And then we reach that point.

The point where you’re so fraught with nerves, you literally just snap at the slightest thing.

For some of us, it only happens as we approach the end of a long year without a holiday but for others, it’s like we’re permanently frazzled.

I’m somewhere in between. I’ve learned to check in with my body regularly especially when I start snapping at people and feeling like I’m going to crack over the smallest thing.

The key is to incorporate enough of these stress busters into your daily routine so you de-stress regularly.

Here are some ideas to de-stress, mostly frugal!

1. Exercise

You can do anything from walking or running, to working out at the gym. From personal experience, I can tell you that a boxing class is a great stress reliever!

2. Get enough sleep

Research shows that most people need between 7 and 8 hours’ sleep every night. Just like babies, when you don’t get enough sleep, you get crabby and everything irritates you

3. Learn to say “no”

Many people are stressed because of built-up resentment due to their inability or unwillingness to say NO.

(Keep your eyes peeled. I’m going to be hosting a teleseminar next month where I’ll teach you to say no without feeling guilty.)

4. Practise self-care

This can be anything from taking a bubble bath to getting a manicure or a massage. The main thing is to do something for YOU on at least a weekly basis, preferably daily. Every day without fail I take 30 minutes to just sit and relax with a cup of tea. What do you do?

5. Use your support system regularly

When you feel overwhelmed or frazzled, call a friend, family member or colleague, either just to talk or to help you!

Now, put one or all of these ideas into practice for better mental health and ultimately increased productivity!

Have a stress-free week!

What are your best stress relief tips?