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Seasonal Stress Relievers
How to Relax and Enjoy the Holidays With Your Partner By Carma Haley Shoemaker
Another cause of high stress levels during the holiday season is time constraints. We commit to more than we can do in the limited amount of time, says Gross. "Simplify your social calendar," she says. "Attend only those functions you value most or believe to be absolutely necessary. Space events and maintain a flexible, realistic schedule. And wherever possible, use a simple alternative to a complicated task."
Buying gifts online or setting aside time in the months leading up to the holidays to prepare gifts can help ease the Christmas crunch.
We often measure the success of our holiday seasons against what we see on television, in the movies and by what others expect of us. Gross says that the hard truth is that even the best holiday events are nothing close to perfect. "It's inevitable that at least one or two things will go wrong with every holiday celebration," she says. "The turkey may be dry, the gravy a bit lumpy, a family member does not show or Aunt Joan and Cousin Sally end up fighting – again. Remember, moderation is the key. Keep it simple, take time out and find the 'true spirit of the holidays,' and share this with people who you love or care about."