An Overdoers Christmas

Sanity seems to take a break off this time of year. From Thanksgiving to Christmas many of us seem to lose our minds - or at least the part that is usually governed by common sense. A feeding frenzy, more often found in piranha than people, grips our collective consciousness and we throw caution, good judgment and good money to the four winds. I'm referring to that annual rite of the holiday season called "Overdoing it".

Some of you are nodding your head with a wry smile on your face, aren't you? You were in the club (as I was too). You never imagined you would have been a part of this alliance, but you were once card-carrying members with all of the rights, privileges and lunacy that came with charter membership. And now that you have extracted yourself from the "fun", you can put a name to your former condition - Overdoer.

Who are these Overdoers, and what sort of madness grips them this time of year? More importantly, how do we safely recognize them without being contaminated (or re-contaminated) ourselves?

When observed in their natural habitat, Overdoers are easy to identify. After blending into their environment (December), just wait - it won't take long. Soon they will show themselves in all of their splendor and excess. Specifically, I have found that the best places to detect Overdoers is by either peeking out the kitchen window, pushing a cart in a local grocery store or taking a stroll in any suburban shopping mall.

At home, the kitchen window is the perfect vantage point to witness Overdoers saturating the outside of their homes with thousands of tiny lights and those ridiculous inflatable yard decorations. The pleasure that is derived from watching Overdoers struggle, curse, test and re-test the light strings is immeasurable. And if anyone is fortunate enough to see an accidental puncturing of a giant inflated Santa, the giggling fits will carry over right through the New Year. Not only will you be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor, but you will also have a ringside seat when their January electric bill arrives. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

 

When you have some free time during the holidays (and if you aren't an Overdoer, you will), spend a few moments roving the aisles of your nearby grocery store, specifically the aisle that shelves the baking supplies. After a few minutes observation, the inevitable question arises, "just how many Christmas cookies are enough?" Overdoers spend days in the kitchen, faces painted with flour, beads of sweat trickling down their temples, vague mutterings about not having enough vanilla or brown sugar. Anyone who inadvertently strays into this Overdoers' territory is met by a withering look that silently communicates, "don't ask". 

 

The best place to spy Overdoers in the largest herds is obviously at the mall. Grab a bench seat in a mall atrium and simply watch the foot traffic. Overdoers can be found carrying their weight in packages, boxes and bags - swooping in and out of stores like ravenous vultures - walking three or four long strides faster than the general mall population. A sighting can only be confirmed, however, if an Overdoer's mate is spotted trailing a safe distance behind, head down, arms full, exasperation oozing from every pore.

 

No - contrary to what you are reading - I am not a Scrooge. I love the Christmas season. I love it enough to take the time to do something Overdoers rarely get around to, actually appreciating the season. Christmas preparation usually doesn't end for Overdoers until the kids are putting on their coats for the trip to Grandma's house on Christmas Eve, if then.

 

Naturally, post-Christmas letdown hits Overdoers the hardest. Like all bingers, they are left feeling emptier on December 26th than they were on Black Friday. Overdoers spent the previous four weeks gorging themselves with decorating, baking and shopping, but mostly forgot to stop and smell the yule log along the way.

 

Fortunately for Overdoers, there is help. It's called moderation. Not an easy step to take, but a necessary first one (after admitting a problem exists, of course). By all means, enjoy Christmas. Get in the spirit. Relish what you are supposed to and remove what makes you crazy. Here are a few tips:

 

• Listen to Christmas music every day (but not until after Thanksgiving), it's soothing.
• Make only a few batches of cookies, no more. Keep half, give the rest to friends.
• Put most of your decorating effort into the tree, not the outside of your house. It's cheaper and you can actually enjoy your tree.
• Don't use credit to buy gifts (been there, regretted that).
• Try to volunteer one evening for an organization that helps those in need. Overdoers will find the experience humbling.
• Complete ALL Christmas preparations by December 15th. Spend the last ten days getting together with family and friends - not lights, baking ingredients and wrapping paper.

When it comes to Christmas then, less means more. Less anxiety, more relaxation. Less pressure, more enjoyment. These are holiday pleasures that can never be Overdone.