Every year we swear this Christmas is going to be different, and every year we find ourselves wrapping presents as we walk out the door. Why do we allow our procrastination to play havoc with our lives year after year? I want to help you cruise through this holiday season!

Our main problem is that it all seems like so much work to us. This is why we put it off to another day. Who wants to work? We would much rather play, and that is what we are going to do! We are headed for a cruise. That is, we are going to pretend that on Dec. 1 our cruise starts, and we do not return home until Dec. 21. If we are to have an enjoyable cruise, our holiday plans have to be complete before we set foot on the ship!

Our goal is to have all the gifts bought, wrapped and under the tree. This means that our home has to be decorated and holiday food waiting in the pantry. We won't have time to do much shopping when our cruise is over. We have the whole month to do this. All we have to do is take baby steps.

We need a plan. This is my gift to you this holiday season: a Holiday Control Journal that is free for you to download on my Web site: www.FlyLady.net. All you have to do is put a little action with this plan and you will be cruising toward your most peaceful celebration ever. (While you are on my Web site, check out our link to Holiday Cruising Missions videos.) We used a basic weekly plan to develop the Holiday Cruising Missions.

Monday-Clean and fling: In order to have fun this holiday season we need to start with our routines. You can't organize clutter, so we have to fling the clutter.

Tuesday-Plan and play: Oh, do we love to play and make lists. We set aside a few minutes each Tuesday to fill our need to play. Decorating our homes is fun when we don't try to kill ourselves by doing it all at once. Using this day to make our plans and implement them helps us to take our baby steps.

Wednesday-Anti-procrastination day: The buck stops here! No longer can put off doing things like wrapping presents and addressing Christmas cards. This is our day to stop procrastinating and do just a little to make our cruise a reality.

Thursday-Go and do:When we make our list of things to do and then get out into the world and do them, amazing things get accomplished. Before we know it, we are checking things off of our list, and we are cruising. Many things we can finish without having to leave the house by using the Internet: buying stamps and gift shopping.

Friday-Budget, don't begrudge it: The holidays can play havoc with our checkbook balances and our credit cards when we wait until the last minute to purchase gifts and buy the extra food. Plan for your purchases. Make a simple budget and stick to it. Friday is your day to check your Holiday Control Journal and make sure you are staying within your predetermined budget. Your checkbook and credit cards will thank you come January. This not only makes the holidays peaceful, but the New Year has a great start without the holiday debt dragging you down!

Are you ready to cruise through the holidays! Come join us and enjoy a peaceful holiday!

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For more help getting rid of your CHAOS; check out: www.flylady.net. Also see Cilley's book, "Sink Reflections" and her new book, "Body Clutter." Copyright 2006 Marla Cilley Used by permission in this publication.