Five Ways to Cut Down on Holiday Stress

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

During the holidays, our lives become even more stressful aswe try to juggle our usual responsibilities with extra holidaypreparation 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. Prioritizethe events that matter the most to you and your family.
• Don't let competitiveness and perfectionism send you ontoo many shopping trips.
• Simplify -- don't bake 20 different types of cookiesunless you enjoy doing it.
• Remember that family time can be both wonderful andanxiety-provoking.