As I sit here writing this, it’s just days until Christmas. In past years everything is prepared by now. Tree and decorations up, 99% of presents wrapped, lists and more lists written, every day of the festive season planned out. Not this year.

I didn’t start shopping until mid-November (compared to September in previous years.) I finished shopping two days ago but I haven’t wrapped a thing. Hubby has wrapped a few of the children’s presents but that’s it. The tree was still in the loft until the week just gone and only Christmas Day and Boxing Day have been planned.

Am I stressed that it’s not organised? Not at all. I usually prefer to organise events like Christmas in the same way a military operation would be planned, but this year I decided to approach Christmas with a different attitude.

The earlier I start planning something the more I panic. For every list I finish, I write another. I’m too much of a perfectionist and the more I prepare the more stressed I become. Our daughter’s 1^st Christmas was just awful. I had built it up to be the perfect day but instead it turned into a Christmas to forget because I was so wound up and when the slightest thing didn’t go to plan I was devastated.

So far, everything is going well. I’ll wrap hubby’s presents at some point over the next few days, but I’m very relaxed about what needs doing. After Boxing Day, we’ll take each day as it comes and this year I am determined to enjoy Christmas, because that’s surely what it’s all about?

Ask me on Christmas Eve how it’s going and see if I’m still so laid back!