It’s that time of year again, the five week stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas when common sense flies out the window and we knock ourselves out trying to produce the ‘perfect’ holiday memories for our families.

The endless To-Do lists are guaranteed to raise your stress levels and suck the merry right out of your Christmas.

Every magazine and newspaper I pick up is filled with advice, on how not to eat too much over the coming weeks when faced with the Thanksgiving feast and other daily temptations, and even more importantly: how to reduce stress.

Yeah, right, you say. I need to buy gifts for 30 family members, put up the Christmas decorations, both inside and out, bake twelve dozen cookies, and plan an over-the-top dinner menu for our holiday repast.

There isn’t enough time to get it all done!

Being as guilty as the next person for overdoing things this time of year, I may not be the best source of advice. However, this much I know:  whatever I think absolutely must be done for the perfect seasonal celebration, there is probably a fair amount I could cut back on.

For example, as much as I like to bake, we really don’t need eight dozen cookies. My family could easily get by with less. After all, who is going to eat all those cookies? We do not have a large extended family, and how many people really enjoy receiving homemade treats for Christmas? Especially when we’re being told to rein ourselves in and eat less?

Since we aren’t planning on having sixty guests over for dinner, I don’t need to decorate the house from top to bottom. Who would I be knocking myself out for?

For the most part, ours will be a quiet family celebration, complete with our most cherished traditions – a  freshly cut, glittering tree  holding center stage in the living room, garlands gracing the staircase, and favorite seasonal decorations scattered here and there throughout the house.

Every family is different, of course, but regardless of your situation my advice to you is simple – put yourself back on your To-Do list! Cut back wherever you can, and instead do something you really enjoy – like reading a good book or going for a long walk.

Honor yourself with wholesome, nourishing meals.

Most importantly, seek out some quiet time at the end of the day to be with your thoughts and to re-think your agenda. In making conscious choices, your not only being kind to yourself, you can ultimately stress less and enjoy the holiday more.