The beginning of the winter holiday season brings not only joy and anticipation, but also, that gift which keeps on giving: holiday stress. Both of your faithful founders have experienced the winter holidays with the added complication of broken right ankles. Nothing forces you to set realistic holiday priorities like the inability to drive and a steady regimen of pain pills. The lessons learned during our “broken ankle” holidays continue to serve us in creating holiday memories without holiday trauma. So as we enter the holiday juggernaut, we offer the following tips to help you focus on the literal and figurative gifts of the season:

     • Set a top priority and then arrange your efforts around what is most important—spending time with friends, continuing family traditions, traveling home? Seriously, no holiday has been ruined by the absence of homemade cookies.

     • Combine the work, combine the fun. Get the girls together for a holiday cookie swap. Invite friends over to help trim the tree. Turn Thanksgiving into a side dish potluck.

     • Opt for quality. Instead of buying individual gifts for each of your girlfriends, suggest a secret Santa exchange with a more substantial dollar limit. A $40 silk scarf is nicer than the five $8 candles you’d probably receive. Fewer presents to select is more time for you!

     • Like Nancy Reagan taught us, “just say no.” Don’t be afraid to send your regrets to some events so you can truly savor the ones you do attend.

The Society of Recovering Sorority Girls is an elite organization devoted to the principles of collegiate Greek life to the leisure activities of young professionals everywhere. Contact them at recoveringsororitygirls@earthlink.net.