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With each passing day we are getting closer to Christmas!
Last year and this year I've been doing pretty good fibro wise.... but this fall and especially now my plate is so full of things it's over flowing, I feel completely unprepared for Christmas.
So far we got upstairs done renovated and we got the piles of materials and tools out of the house (but still organizing them).
We are still in the process of cleaning up the rest of the house.
We don't have any presents bought yet.
We don't have any decorations up yet.
Our house will be full of guests this season. 1st family member is flying in Friday!
The wedding reception is Dec 29 and we are still working out the final details.
I feel overwhelmed at this point and I don't really know what to do. A few people (friends & family) have volunteered to help put things together but sometimes they make the head ache worse.
My phone rings non stop with questions and people wanting me to pass on questions to other people / family involved in the events. My nerves are on edge. Sometimes I forget to call a few of the people on that list or ask some of the questions and I get even more calls with more questions.
I am about to pull my hair out. The last thing I need is a flare in the middle of all this.
I'm making a roster of everyone's number on it and I want to email it to everyone so they can talk to each other. But even that is driving me up the wall and I'm already getting phone calls asking where is that roster? etc.
But this still doesn't answer how I'm supposed to get ready for Christmas.
Any advice?
Last year and this year I've been doing pretty good fibro wise.... but this fall and especially now my plate is so full of things it's over flowing, I feel completely unprepared for Christmas.
So far we got upstairs done renovated and we got the piles of materials and tools out of the house (but still organizing them).
We are still in the process of cleaning up the rest of the house.
We don't have any presents bought yet.
We don't have any decorations up yet.
Our house will be full of guests this season. 1st family member is flying in Friday!
The wedding reception is Dec 29 and we are still working out the final details.
I feel overwhelmed at this point and I don't really know what to do. A few people (friends & family) have volunteered to help put things together but sometimes they make the head ache worse.
My phone rings non stop with questions and people wanting me to pass on questions to other people / family involved in the events. My nerves are on edge. Sometimes I forget to call a few of the people on that list or ask some of the questions and I get even more calls with more questions.
I am about to pull my hair out. The last thing I need is a flare in the middle of all this.
I'm making a roster of everyone's number on it and I want to email it to everyone so they can talk to each other. But even that is driving me up the wall and I'm already getting phone calls asking where is that roster? etc.
But this still doesn't answer how I'm supposed to get ready for Christmas.
Any advice?
Excuse the mistakes iPads grrrr
Do one thing on your list, scratch do another. Look at each individual not the list as a whole.
You can do it
the closest thing to that I can make at the moment is a schedule of the upcoming events. There are many and they fill the calendar.
I also fill in who is flying in and who needs picked up. Fill in on what days what items need picked up. So far I have the basics for just the week of Christmas through the day of the wedding celebration and the calendar is packed to the MAX! I haven't even filled in details, yet. eeps.
Only in the beginning stages of assigning people TO DO and errands they will be doing.
Jeff does a little here and there. He helps me fill some of it in. He works long hours and when he comes home tends to want to relax or go out and take a swim or watch a movie. He did help renovations... and when I need some help ordering things like flowers and the cake, he went and did that.
I still feel overwhelmed.... I think fibro and a ton of pressure just isn't easy. Feels like my nerves are in overdrive or something.
I can't check one at a time off.... I have to try and check 4 things off per day because we are falling behind. There isn't enough time in a day!
1. You can hire someone to help
2. Look at your list and concentrate on the few things that have to be done and forget the rest. No one will never know and you will have a little sanity left.
I think we get so wrapped up in wanting things perfect, that we forget the purpose of the event. Your friends and family are going to be happy just to be there with you.
They will never know the difference.
Then let them handle their part and dont worry about it.
The wedding cake that went sideways when the cart hit the back of the elevator a bit too hard - the minister who forgot our names as he was trying to introduce us at the end of the ceremony - and then there was the blizzard that started in the middle of the wedding, which caused most of our guests to panic, go through the receiving line, and congratulate us with "Lovely ceremony - GOTTA GO! LOL
At least where you are, the blizzard isn't an option.
Breathe!
I want to be encouraging in what I'm about to say and am saying it because it may be helpful in preparing what happens after all the celebrating fizzles down a bit. Most fibro people I know can amp themselves up using whatever tools they have to get done what needs to be done. Then when it's all over many of us suffer from the 3 day recovery period that fibro leaves us with. With an event as huge and wonderful as yours you may want to plan for some time after to plan on resting. Might not happen to you at all, but planning for the exhaustion afterward might be wise.
Best wishes to you and Merry Christmas! I hope to hear great things after the new year!
Too late about the tools in the pantry.... I couldn't stand them being there so I took em out. By back was killing me!
thanks for the laughs....
Yeah I know you all are laughing at me, too har har
I live, breath and sleep chaos. It doesn't take much to "overwhelm" me and after a few days of being overwhelmed I tend to shut down. I just can't seem to get much done.
So...I try to avoid being overwhelmed. (Bwahhahahaha....as if I have control, right?)
I make lists. I deligate. I HAVE TO TRUST others.
After several chaotic events I have planned in life, I have learned that because of that darn clock....it's going to come and go. So I then focus on what is important.
You have two biggies right next to each other. Christmas first then reception.
Focus on what needs to get done...right now...in two hours...by the end of the day. (this is where your list come in handy)
I also like to schedule out my day at the beginning of it. If I know I have a full day of errands....I like to plan it out.
For example:
Get kids on bus..8am
Run to store 8:30
Break 9:30 - 11:30
Pick up kid #2 at bus 12pm
Get lunch
Run to mall...
Break @2:30-3pm....
etc.
By planning out when I get my breaks...my day becomes easier. (now obviously this is just day to day kind of plan for me - but I do the same for big events).
I wish I was there to help out. Seriously....I'd be thrilled to be running around for you while enjoying your little piece of heaven in paradise there instead of being buried in snow!
Be sure to come back here on your breaks...and vent or celebrate what you've accomplished. We'll be here waiting with the high 5s!