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b'During the Summer months, I doubt many people are thinking about Christmas. Well, I love Christmas and I love thinking about it as often as possible. In fact, I love watching Christmas movies all year long (don\\u2019t judge me). You may not have thought about it, but Christmas is five months away and it will creep up on you, like a pair of tight knickers if you aren\\u2019t careful! We all procrastinate in some area of our lives, from time to time. The reason we do it is:\\n\\n1). We feel overwhelmed at times. The holiday expectations that we place on ourselves and those that come from our family members, can be so much that we feel like we are going to fail. So instead of failing, we decide not to do anything at all, or we wait until the absolute last minute to get things done.\\n\\n2). We overestimate the amount of time we have to get things done. Right now, Christmas seems like a long time away, and it really isn\\u2019t. \\n\\n3). We think everything must be perfect. Did you know that perfectionism, is the root of procrastination? Guess what, it doesn\'t have to be perfect. It just has to be enjoyable by you, and your family.\\n\\n4). We tell ourselves we work better under pressure. Honestly, there are some people that really do work better under pressure. If on the other hand, you are not willing to go into debt to measure up to someone else\\u2019s expectations, I would suggest you get started NOW. How you ask? Well, you can try some of these great ideas: \\n\\n1). Start saving now. You can start saving $25 or $50 a week for your Christmas shopping. Of course, knowing what your budget is for each person on your list, will make things a whole lot better. You can use a cash envelope system, create a holiday savings account, or transfer money into your savings account. \\n\\n2). Book your travel NOW. Now is the time to secure your flight and hotel arrangements. \\n\\n3). Schedule your family photo. Now is the time to do a family photo for your Christmas cards, your scrapbook, holiday journal or to frame for your coffee table. You could also put your family picture on mugs, calendars, and other things to giveaway. Here are some great places to get your holiday prints done: Costco, Sam\\u2019s Club, Snapfish, and Vista Print (my favorite); just to name a few.\\n\\n4). Create a family cookbook. Depending on how big your family is, you can have a nice size book of recipes. Here is software you can use to create your cookbook: \\n- Cookbook People- This site offers cookbook software you can buy and then print yourself.\\n- CreateMyCookbook- This site offers a high-tech way to create a family cookbook. \\n- Microsoft- Go to Office.Microsoft.com, search under \\u201ctemplates\\u201d and then type in \\u201ccookbook.\\u201d\\n\\n5). Schedule your December things to do NOW. Get out your December calendar and make a note of your plans for the holiday season. You may need to make some changes, as you get closer to the holiday season and that\\u2019s fine. \\n\\n6). Start making your holiday crafts now. You\\u2019ll never have more spare time than you have now, during these lazy days of summer. Take advantage of this down time by learning a new craft or polish up on those you know but could use some fresh inspiration on. A great place to find inspiration is YouTube! \\n\\n7). Favorite things basket. Chances are you\\u2019re familiar with Oprah\\u2019s show that showcased her favorite things. You\\u2019ll come up with all kinds of ideas once you start thinking about it. The key is to stock up on all the items you plan to use now, while the supplies are plentiful. \\n\\n8). Put together your memories. Put together an album of the memories you have. If you are into junk journals or traveler\\u2019s notebooks, this is a great idea as well. You may also want to interview older relatives and make a CD, DVD or even a written transcript of the interview for each member of the family. Ask about their childhood and young adult memories, family history, and their perspective on historical events that occurred during their lifetime. \\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n--- \\n\\nSend in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelle4466/message\\nSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelle4466/support'