7 Extremely Useful Tips on How to Get into the Christmas Spirit ...

Instead of feeling stressed out about all the things you have to do, try and focus on the positive side of it. Christmas is about helping others, celebrating the season and feeling joyful. So don't worry about the 25 gifts you have to buy, instead, think of it this way: You have so many loved ones in your life! Remembering that is the best way to figure out how to get ready for Christmas.

Here's one of the best tips on how to get ready for Christmas I can give you: Learn to deal. There's always going to be that insistent mother-in-law or rude cousin. So just block it out or walk away. And if nobody volunteers to bring the cherry pie you want, make it yourself! That's called adapting.

Remember this: where there's family and food, there is a mess. Make sure you do your part to clean up after meals and opening gifts. If you were hostess, you'd appreciate that, wouldn't you? It's also a good idea to assign chores to everyone after the festivities are over, this way all the work gets done!

One of my favorite tips for how to get ready for Christmas is to learn to laugh it off. If something goes wrong or doesn't turn out like you expected, just smile and shrug it off. Getting upset won't change it anyway! I like to keep a silly picture or video on my phone to look at during particularly stressful times just to get a smile back on my face!

Bet you didn't think this was one of my tips on how to get ready for Christmas! Recent studies have shown that venting doesn't always make you feel better; in fact, it can make you feel worse! Re-hashing the whole experience, whether in your mind or out loud, just causes the same release of those negative hormones. You're better off just to forget the whole incident and move on with your holiday cheer!

When things start to get down to the wire and you just can't handle another thing, it's time to back off and fit in some down time. Between wrapping gifts, baking, decorating, organizing Christmas pageants, and helping your mom trim her tree, you have got to make room to breathe! So have a nice bubble bath or whatever relaxes you and pick up where you left off tomorrow.

As much as I love Christmastime, I often find myself relieved when it's over. It's such a busy time! Take a minute to stop, remember WHY we celebrate Christmas, and enjoy the small things that come with it, like family, friends, food and pretty decorations. It's time to really and truly enjoy CHRISTMAS!

With this handy checklist full of tips on how to get ready for Christmas, I'm sure that you will have everything under control for every family get together and holiday party you attend. Knowing how to get ready for Christmas makes me feel that much more in control and not so stressed out about everything, and I'm sure it will do the same for you! Do you have any great and fantastic tips on how to get ready for Christmas you'd like to share with us today?