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| Photo by Suat Eman |
But what about your prayer time? Your writing? How will you handle all the stress?
1. Christmas is not about you.
It's about the birth of Jesus. As much as it may sound cliche to repeat the phrase "Remember the reason for the season", we need to think about our priorites. Without getting too preachy, are we Christians celebrating this holiday because we're truly happy our Savior came into the world, or are we being consumed by too much rich food, long lines at the mall, and far more parties to count?
I'm not saying to sit at home all December long and read from the Book of Luke (although reading from Luke is not a bad idea). I'm saying if we make Jesus the center of our Christmas celebrations, then we'll find some balance and won't feel as though we have to be everywhere all at once.
2. It's okay to not have a sleigh loaded with gifts.
In this economy, hardly anyone can afford to impersonate Santa by having a gift for every coworker, mail carrier, or distant relative. I felt guilty for not being able to surprise some newfound friends with presents, but then I realized that true friends don't expect those things. They're happy if you just stop by for a visit or show you care, even in a small way.
But, hey, homemade pies are affordable. And who doesn't love to eat?
3. Write something.
Unless you're Ebenezer Scrooge shutting in to pen his autobiography, chances are you won't get much -or any, eeep!- writing done this month. That goes for the WIP and the blog, if you write one. Cut yourself some slack. We're all in the same boat.
That being said, we can all practice our writing skills outside of manuscripts and blogging. Now's a great time to write your spouse a love letter, or pen a personal message on a friend's Christmas card. This way, come January, we won't have to feel completely out of practice.
What are your tips for writing during the Christmas season? Are you going to work on your novel or hold off until the New Year?