Yooooo hooooo. I'm just tucked over here in between the couch and the sofa table in my safe place. You of course can't see it, but I'm wearing a hockey mask, 14 dinner rolls as a hat, mittens and steel toed boots. Why the get up? Well #1, it's super-cute. And #2, it's the most adequate protection I could scrounge up last minute.
Today, you see, is the day I broach the most controversial of all subjects on The Art of Doing Stuff. Today I announce it's time to take The Christmas Pledge.
WHAPPP!!
Ha! See? Those dinner rolls came in handy. That shoe one of you threw bounced right off my forehead. No damage at all.
I realize that October might seem a tiny bit early to start preparing for a holiday that isn't until the end of December. And I couldn't agree more. It's ludicrous and I would never suggest you do such a thing. That's why the pledge doesn't start for another 2 days. Which is November. Which is an entirely different thing altogether. Once we hit November, Christmas is just around the corner basically and if you don't pledge to start getting ready for it now your December is going to be miserable. It'll be filled with baking and sloshing and looking for parking spots at the mall, which inevitably leads to high blood pressure, fist fights and more often than not incarceration. You know it's true.
On November 10th, 2011, I introduced the very first Christmas Pledge on The Art of Doing Stuff. It was originally called The Christmas Challenge and it was a bit loosey goosey compared to how it is now, but the sentiment was there. Get shit done. Now.
Every year I hear the same thing from Americans. BUT NOVEMBER IS WHEN WE HAVE THANKSGIVING.
I know. Buck up. Take it like a champ. I've given you a few hours of free time so you can eat your turkey and show off your stretch marks.
The rest of the month is devoted to accomplishing one or two small holiday related things every day. Make cookie dough, decide on presents, drink wine. You can handle that can't you? I knew you could. I will walk you through step by step, every single day. I have compiled all the things the average person has to get done and tends to put off every holiday season into one handy calendar. Actually it's more of a dated list this year. All you have to do is follow along with it. It could not be any easier.
For the rest of you, who aren't ready, willing and able to take the Christmas Pledge, for those of you sneering and laughing and pointing a finger know THIS; you can do what you want, but the rest of us, the pledge takers will be spending December carelessly floating around, suspended by gold thread from flying angels. We will have so few worries in December that we will be weightless. We will be made of powdered sugar and kisses. YOU? You on the other hand will be posting bail.
Ready to do it?
Here's this year's Christmas Pledge calendar. Memorize it.
Click here for a 2 page printout of The Christmas Pledge.
Do you think you can handle it? Is everyone calmed down now? Can I take the buns off?
If you're ready to commit to a calm December and a slightly harried but not completely insane November ... take the pledge. There are no legal obligations (that I'm bound to reveal to you), no payments, no nothin'.
There is a private Christmas Pledge Facebook Group you can join to help motivate you. It's great for sharing ideas and looking for inspiration. Ready to take the pledge?
To show you've taken the pledge, just comment below with a simple "I'm taking the pledge!". Don't forget to join the private Art of Doing Stuff Christmas Pledge Facebook group if you think that'll be helpful for you and print out the pledge.
O.K. Give your virtual signature NOW.
Safetydog
I am taking the pledge, again! Already have several things checked off, and since the immediate family is taking a trip in lieu of gifts, my tasks are that much easier.
Paula F.
Wha...? October is over? How did that happen...
Pullin' myself up by my boot straps now. Gonna do it!
Elise Laney
I am taking the pledge! Thank you, Karen.
Karen
Welcome Elise! Pick out your pajamas and takeout choice for Wednesday night! ~ karen!
Louise
I joined in for the first time last year and it really helped. I'm a bah humbug kind of person but decided getting it overwith was the way to go. I was right my December was a much happier month so I'm definitely in.
Jeannette
I'm signing up for the pledge. Even if I only accomplish one or two items in Nov, that will put me ahead of where I usually am right before Christmas. I want my December to be full of carols, cookies, church activities, family fun & floating around on a golden thread--not full of stress. Thanks, Karen!
Lori
I'm in - again. We travel for the holidays so I adapt the pledge where needed, but I love to get everything done and actually enjoy the season!
Jennifer Kirksey
Love this Karen!!!! Thank you for keeping me organized and getting stuff done!!!!! You are the BESTEST!!!
Sue Givens
As my brilliant self scheduled a smallish surgery the Tuesday before Christmas, I'm taking the pledge. I'm already stressing about getting it all done.
Verity Freemont
I joined the pledge
karen too
"Ugh, ugh, ugh! Sign me up," she said, reluctantly.
SueSchneid22
I absolutely suck at being ready for anything. But, with this list of stuff to do, I am going to try to tackle it. See you on the FB page. Oh, and thanks for giving me some structure (which, obviously, I am sorely lacking).
Lynda Loy
I am taking the pledge! So tired of wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve! Lol! First time...we'll see how it goes!
Patricia
Bahhaha! I woke up early this morning thinking about what picture to put on our Christmas card, what day to claim to celebrate with all our grown, married children, and how to keep it light and fun. You are not too early and I'm in!
Brian
But its not the week before Christmas Yet!!!!
Karen
I know! How revolutionary. Am I right? ~ karen!
Megan
With my husband and myself being such introverts I know some of these (hostess gifts I am looking at you) will now be done but there are some good ones in here and I will take the pledge to do those! Bonus I already have 50% of my presents already done.
Nicole Sparks
I have been looking forward to this all October (apparently I have a very lame life). I was in good prep-for-holidays form going into Canadian Thanksgiving, and I didn't want to lose my momentum, so I've already been picking up stocking stuffers (helps that Christmas has been on shelves for that long!).
I'm curious to see how the checklist feels versus the calendar layout.
Karen
I went with the checklist mainly because it's easier to read and I could make the font a bit bigger. :) ~ karen!
Nicole Sparks
I do miss the ability to tell at a glance where the weekends fall in the list - it helps to know I have some extra time to do the assigned tasks, and sometimes I can work ahead if I know I've got something on. But there's something really powerful about checking things off a list too... so we'll see.
Leslie
I'm taking the pledge. First time! (Gulp)
This seems scarier than committing to running my first marathon.
Karen
I can guarantee you it's equally exhausting. ;) But not as exhausting as leaving everything to the last week in December. ~ karen!
Lois M Baron
And more alcohol is involved.
Marie Anne
I'm in! I won't be doing all the things on the list, but I want everything that can be done, done early so I can actually enjoy being social and maybe have people over again like we used to.
November is a tough month for me, (it's just so dark all the time!) so focusing on this might keep me from wanting to sleep and cry lol! Happy thoughts of not being rushed :)
Karen
Hi Marie Anne! If you don't have a a therapy light, get one! This is the one I own, it's a Philips. I turn it on every morning starting around the end of October. In fact it's shining on my face right now. ~ karen!
Marie Anne
I have been pondering getting one of these forever...maybe this is the year. thanks Karen!
Jenny
This will be our first Christmas with a baby, and if I'm going to decorate or do anything at all to celebrate the holiday, I'm going to have to take the pledge (probably simplified, for my "lifestyle"). It's amazing how quickly the evenings and weekends go when you'd rather play with a baby than dust or vacuum or file papers, etc.
Mary from Barrie
I'm in! But I would suggest moving #28, buying a nice candle, to #1. Christmas candles went out on display at HomeSense in September and there won't be any left by Nov. 28th.