If I keep this up, everybody will think I hate Christmas.  I really don't, although this year is certainly doing its level best to try.  But this time of the year, we tend to burn ourselves out and miss the actual fun of the holidays.  So, here are a few tips I use to keep everything in line and my brain capable of enjoying myself.

- Online Christmas shopping is a lot better than going in person.  It really is, especially this year, where people are breaking out the pepper spray to avoid being curbstomped at Wal-Mart.  You can make your purchases and just have them delivered.  And if you have a lot of gifts, just spend the $80 and get Amazon Prime: it's done wonders for my peace of mind and holiday schedule.

- That said, wrap your own gifts: it's the thought that counts on the outside as well as the inside.

- Know when to (politely) turn down invitations.  Everybody has a holiday party, especially this year as workplaces cut back and more generous people try and pick up the slack.  I always use this criteria: Will I know at least five people there?  If the answer's yes, then I'll seriously consider it, at least.

- Keep your Christmas list modest.  This is something I've been doing for a few years now because of a lack of any big ticket items I particularly want to own, and it not only keeps your stress level down and helps to control the amount of crap you have to haul back, it lessens the stress on family members and friends.

- Drinking should be kept to a minimum.  This isn't because of any sort of huffy morals or anything, it's just easy to overindulge this time of year, and have you ever gone Christmas shopping or tried to wrap presents with a hangover?  It's not fun.

How about you?  Any tips you have to make the holidays more fun and less trying?