Five Ways to Cut Down on Holiday Stress

Crowded malls, trips to the
airport, and the constant shuffling of cookies and turkey out of the
oven can lead to holiday stress, says a U.S. expert.

The holidays may be the season of love and celebration, but
sometimes holiday festivities can become overwhelming, according to Dr.
Alan Manevitz, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill
Cornell Medical Center.

During the holidays, our lives become even more stressful as
we try to juggle our usual responsibilities with extra holiday
preparation and complicated family dynamics, says Manevitz.

Manevitz advises:

• Don't wait for the last minute to make plans.
• Don't be a perfectionist about the holidays. Prioritize
  the events that matter the most to you and your family.
• Don't let competitiveness and perfectionism send you on
  too many shopping trips.
• Simplify -- don't bake 20 different types of cookies
  unless you enjoy doing it.
• Remember that family time can be both wonderful and
  anxiety-provoking.

Source: United Press International.
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