Signs of stress may include feeling impatient, worried, cranky, and, in some cases, depressed. Some people experience sleep or appetite disturbances, or other physical complaints such as muscle tension, headache, fatigue, or stomach aches.

Following are some tips to help you minimize holiday stress. Major themes in these recommendations include:

• Simplifying
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations, particularly the desire for perfection
• Investing your energy wisely

Take time to consider what this holiday season means to you:

• What are you celebrating?
• What values do you think of when you think of your holiday? Are you practicing them?
• Consider past holidays. Where did you invest your energy? Was it worth it?
• As a family, consider the traditions and rituals that you practice. Which ones do you enjoy? Which ones bring your family closer together?  Sometimes the simplest rituals are the most meaningful.  It's okay to re-evaluate past traditions and create new ones.
   

Gift giving:

• Set a holiday budget.
• Do not equate love with cost and quantity of gifts.
• Consider giving the gift of your time and service.
• Ask people what they want instead of searching for the perfect gift.
• Shop early so there is more of a selection and you have time to really choose.
• Don't head toward the mall in 5 o'clock traffic or during peak times.
• Shop on the Internet.

Getting together with family:

• Evaluate past holidays and traditions, and consider any changes in the family structure (e.g., marriages, remarriages, divorce). Be flexible and willing to let go of ideas of the way things "should be."
• Share responsibilities so the pressure does not fall on one person (e.g., rotate homes, potluck).
• Plan to visit some friends and family soon after the holidays. There is no need to squeeze everything in before the New Year.
• Don't get hung up on celebrating on the actual holiday. Time together is what matters.
• Allow enough time to relax and recover after visiting with others.
   

Managing your time:

• Consider past holidays and where you invested your energy. Decide to change the things you dislike about the holidays.
• Don't spend the holidays just fulfilling obligations. Pick and choose what you want to do rather than what you think others expect you to do.
• Set priorities and let go of impossible goals. Don't try to complete everything at once.
• Don't over-schedule yourself and your family. Leave some time unplanned to relax and just be at home with each other.
• Don't accept every invitation. Chose the events you want to attend.
• Ask others to help you complete chores.  Don't wait until offered; you may be disappointed.
• Take breaks.

Take care of yourself:

• Get adequate sleep. Eat regular meals. Don't abandon your exercise routine.
• Plan pleasurable activities each day.
• Don't let your "to-do" list control you. Set realistic goals for yourself.
• Spend time with supportive people.
• Take breaks. Rest when your body tells you to.
• Practice relaxation exercises (i.e., stretching, deep breathing, yoga, meditation).