These days it seems that the trick-or-treaters have barely gone home when Santa is coming to town. How did it get so fast? I remember when I was a kid, the month before Christmas crawled by. And the week before Christmas was sweetly, unbearably slow. Adults at the time talked about how hectic the season was, and how overwhelmed they were. I thought they were all mad! Christmas was so much fun I could hardly stand it. I loved every tinselly minute of it. Now that I am an adult myself, I can easily forget this pure joy in the madness and rush of shopping, parties, sending cards, and trying to keep sane.

I have learned over the last few years a few ways to bring back the fun and easiness of the Christmases I remember as a child. First of all, don't feel you have to do everything you've always done. Will anyone really care if you stop sending Christmas cards? If you have found your Christmas card list growing over the years until you are now buying three boxes of cards, spending a fortune on stamps, and writing the same greeting over and over until your hand is cramped up and you can't see straight, it may be time to stop. Or at least trim your list and just send a personal greeting to a few close family members and friends. Generally we are all deluged with cards every December, and maybe no one will even notice if yours is not among them this year.

Give something back. Go caroling to raise money for a charity if you love to sing. Volunteer to deliver food to elderly people. Buy new toys and books for a toy drive for underprivileged children. If you have kids, involve them in these activities. It instills a sense of gratefulness for what they have, and they will get to experience at a young age the warm feeling of giving to those less fortunate.

Leave the TV off. I know there are terrific movies on at Christmastime, Willy Wonka, Scrooge, and all our favorites. It is fun to watch favorites with the family, and they do bring back memories. But do you really want to watch Die Hard 3 again? Instead, choose a holiday CD, maybe Ella Fitzgerald or Bing Crosby, turn down the lights so the Christmas tree glows even brighter, and make hot chocolate. Adults can slip in a little brandy or peppermint schnapps to make the night ever cheerier. Play a board game, or wrap presents, and enjoy the break from the tube.

Play with toys. How long is it since you have sat down with Sindy or Barbie and tried on clothes? Does the safari jacket work with the ball gown skirt? You be the judge. If your young niece or daughter gets new dolls and doll clothes this year, don't let her have all the fun.

Forget about the diet. You know you're going to eat too many sweets and pudding, mince pies and cake. So why feel guilty about it? Give yourself until the New Year and vow to go the gym more often starting in January. But right now, if that Crunchie is winking at you from an open selection box, go for it.

Whatever you do this year, try to not let it overwhelm you. Take time to breathe and relax. Allow the season to make you happy, not stressed. And if you have children, or nieces and nephews, watch their wide-eyed anticipation, their excitement about Santa, how new everything is. And you will remember just how it felt.