(No, not another post about James Purefoy's ass.)
It seems like 90% of the people I work with are in towering foul moods today. I wouldn't include myself in that number, but I have been a bit uptight and a little bit stressed. Some of my workmates have been in very, very dark moods indeed, and bitching about each other seems the order of the day.
I blame Christmas.
Seriously, I do. I can only speak for myself, but I'm rapidly running out of time and inspiration to get everything done. This sounds terribly grinchy I know. I keep accepting social engagements, but then at the back of my mind I'm totalling up the time I'll need to get to all these functions, balancing that with the time I have left to shop, and minusing the cost of wine/taxis/gifts from what's left of the Christmas Budget. The scales are almost tipping over into deficit.
I think it's probably a similar level of stress that's getting to everyone. Add in the rush to get everything done at work before we close on Friday the 21st, and then there is that stress on top.
I'm trying to stave off the worst of it by doing some planning. Making a few lists. Checking them twice, as the story goes. Normally I've done better by this late stage of the game. I still have some of Saturday and some of Sunday left to shop before I fly out to see my family early Sunday evening, but that's mostly it. In previous years I have worked in the city, and was able to get some shopping done during various lunch hours. Maybe I can head into the city and brave the crowds during the extended trading on Friday night?
Oh, and that's right, I have some baking to do...
I've so filled my weekends, and some week nights, and now I've made myself a bit time poor. However, just so you don't think it's all grinch all the time here, I am loving the opportunities to see friends and family, and hang out and have a good time.
Part of writing this post is to remind myself to take a few minutes and remember that!
7 comments:
This is why such holidays are best ignored. If the masses are doing it, it can't be good!
Transcend the norm: don't conform!
I know, I know.
How much time do you think I spend conforming to the norm... really? :) It's only a thin veneer of normalcy. Some days, very thin.
from a psychological point of view, christmas should be banned like asbestos.
hear hear ur-spo!
I ventured to a shopping centre on Sunday and the driving standards had slipped another notch or seven lower than normal, everyone was wandering around aimlessly, and they where charging up to $49.95 to have a photo taken with Santa!
Hmm-humbug...ohh hang on, that's not right.
I'm hearing you. It's been hell, not helped by the fact that the weekend I'd scheduled for organising Christmas stuff was taken up by an unscheduled trip to Tassie, and I'm spending an hour or so every night on the phone to my family.
The problem is I *like* Christmas, and I want to do it well, and get lovely, thoughtful gifts for everyone. This year it just isn't happening, and I guess those who care will understand.
The only thing that gets me through the holidays the last few years is remembering that it's all about the chilins. I just focus on the nieces and nephews until such time as I can get appropriately hammered, and if I'm really lucky, nailed.
In times past when I've had a bad earning year (self-employed, ya know) I've simply banned present purchases to or from. A huge weight is immediately lifted which makes you realise how much the stress is often self-induced. Easy for me to do since I've always resented the coercive aspect of Christmas. Make fuss of any kids and fuss over friends and family on their birthdays is the attempted practice.
And if you want more stress you can always ponder your seasonal carbon footprint!
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