Here are just a few tips to make this most intense part of the holiday season less stressful, more relaxing and more celebratory.

1. Take a look at your calendar from now until New Years. Make sure you are neither overbooked, nor forgetting about events that are meaningful to you. Make sure the schedule is realistic and that your family members are all on board with the plan.

2. Take a hard look at your budget and stick with it for your Holiday expenditures. A great source of holiday stress is financial. Reduce costs by decorating with natural elements, entertaining pot luck, and by making or baking homemade gifts. Consider also gifts of outings. For example, give a certificate good for “one Sunday afternoon walk in the park with me”.

3. Ramp up the consistency of your workouts. You will feel better about yourself and avoid the Holiday weight gain.

4. Be choosy about your indulgences. Eat slowly and savor your treats. Drink ample water through the day, and be sure to consume the sights and sounds of the season, not just the tastes. Consider being the amateur event photographer of the family. It takes your appreciation of the season far beyond the food.

5. Relatives coming from out of town ? Make a sound plan for their accommodations. A little advance planing can save a lot of stress.

6. Anticipating stressful interpersonal encounters ? Plan ahead and adjust your attitude. Try to see the good in everyone. Blessed are the peacemakers.

7. Bon chic, bon genre - This is a French saying meaning that if you dress well, you bring your best self forward. Dress to present yourself thoughtfully, and to indicate your respect, enthusiasm and cheer. Never dress to impress. Dress to delight and to put others at ease.

8. Consider the deeper meaning of the season. This is, of course, the best way to put the shine on the season.

Happy Holidays from Dr. Gina

A very nice reference for more reading :

http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com/Features/HealthyHolidayCelebrations/Pages/introduction.aspx#