They sing to have a "Holly, jolly Christmas" and a "Happy Hanukkah," but sometimes, that just seems impossible. If the undertakings of the season are burning up your holiday spirit, it might be time to step back and rethink your organization.

"There is always a lot more going on during the holiday season, making it tough for even organized people to get it all done," explains Janice Russell, owner of Minding Your Matters®, an organizing firm in Cary, N.C. "But there are a few things you can do to maintain your sanity among the whirl of social events, gifts, decorating and holiday cards."

The first step, Russell says, is to remember that there are no rules. You must exercise your right to choose. Before you agree to that party, check your calendar. You don't have to say "Yes." What have you always done that you don't enjoy? Try not doing that this year. For example, if you hate dealing with holiday cards, don't send them. Not everyone does, and there is no rule that says you must. Maybe you'd rather spend your time decorating or planning a party.

Next, make a plan. Checklists are very handy and can be modified from year to year so that you don't have to remember your entire holiday repertoire each time. Create a plan for cards. When will you buy them? Make life easier by using computer labels, which can then be updated each year. Have children place mailing and return mail labels and the stamps on the envelopes. You can save a copy of your newsletter on your computer and update it each year. If you're writing a newsletter, just sign the card; you don't have to write a personal note to each person.

"Many of us come down with a case of the 'shoulds' this time of year," Russell said. "But the truth is, we'd all be a lot happier and more able to enjoy the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah if we let go of our guilt over the little things. There are no rules about what you must do, and you can always change it up from year to year."

More Tips for Stress-Free Holidays:

• Pick up gifts as you find them throughout the year and have one location for storage.
• Set aside a certain amount of money each month to be the "gift fund."
• It's the Thought, not the stuff. Try buying gift certificates or tickets for a fun experience. Offer the gift of your time -- a special lunch with a friend or babysitting his/her children so he/she can have a date night with the spouse.
• Plan a party around a different holiday such as St. Patrick's Day or New Year's to save yourself the extra stress of planning in December.
• Keep decorating simple. There's no need to keep up with the neighbors' display of 600 lights and a full set of reindeer. Less can be more.

You can find more holiday organizing tips at http://bit.ly/OrganizedHoliday.

Published December 9, 2010