Is Christmas Hazardous to Your Health?

Tis the season for mistletoe, crowded malls, and rich deserts everywhere you go. If you're like most Americans... the flurry of pre-Christmas activity and preparation is anything but a healthy experience.

Why is that? Is it all the shopping you try to cram into one day, after work, before or instead of a healthy dinner? Is it that cheeseburger and super-sized soft drink you had to have because you didn't have time to cook? Oh, and didn't you do the same yesterday?

Is it the stress of standing in a long line at our favorite super center buying groceries for that big dinner, tape for the gift wrapping, and firewood for the fireplace? Is it the fact that you couldn't fit into your favorite blue jeans this morning because you're still recovering from Thanksgiving? Who has time to exercise, right?

Maybe it's that darn tree that you dragged out of your basement the other day... you know, the one full of dust? Now you have scratches and cuts in your fingers and hands from stringing it with lights... when are you going to buy one of those pre-lit trees anyway? Oh, and that star that supposed to be sitting perfectly atop the tree is slightly leaning to the left. You've already fixed it twice. Maybe you need to try the glue gun this time?

Maybe it's Aunt Carla's fault. You thought you'd finally finished your Christmas shopping and now your mother informs you that your aunt will in fact be spending the holidays with you. She's bringing gifts for everyone and is ever so excited to see you after all these years... and by the way; she's bringing her cat, so you'll need to board your dog.

Oh, and what about the baking? No thanks to domestic diva's like Martha Stewart you feel pressured into baking for the neighbors, the church, your children's classroom, that office party, and for that nice woman down the street whom you really don't know, but who brought you cupcakes at Halloween... oh, and don't forget your own family.

Perhaps it's your diminishing checking account. Oh, you were so proud of yourself! You finally learned how to be a saver rather than a spender. It felt so incredible to have reached that new level of financial maturity. Well, so much for that.