by Angelique Ellerman

Created on: August 28, 2008

Don't let another holiday season wear you down and frazzle your nerves. Following are some ideas that can help make Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holidays more enjoyable and less stressful.

1. Make a list and check it twice. Whether you are planning the feast, looking for gifts or just in charge of arrangements, making a list of things that need to be done or items that need to be purchased, helps to take the guesswork out of what needs to be done next. Plus if you stick to the list you can save money by not impulse buying and by taking advantage of any sales that come along. This way you know ahead of time what needs to be taken care of and it should eliminate some of the last minute stress worrying about what might have been forgotten.

2. Take a time out. Make it a routine to take time out for you. Spend 10-15 minutes, a couple of times a day, relaxing, exercising, listening to music, doing yoga, reading a book or taking a walk. The point is to spend some time recharging your battery. Whatever you enjoy doing, give yourself permission to decompress a couple of times a day and you'll be amazed at how much more energy you have. Plus this helps to keep you focused on the task at hand while helping to eliminate stress throughout your day.

3. Start shopping in advance. Make you list early and start keeping an eye out for deals. Start keeping your eyes open for gifts throughout the year and by the time Christmas rolls around, or any other holiday for that matter, you will already be prepared. Plus this helps you to save quite a bit of green in the long run if you only buy items when they go on sale. Best of all you eliminate all those last minute hassles when looking for gifts which can save you time and a whole lot of stress.

4. Don't forget to take care of you too. Things like sleep, diet and exercise have a profound effect on how much energy we have and how well we handle stress when it comes up. Help yourself to stay on top of your game by making sure your body gets enough sleep, the right foods and moderate exercise. By taking care of yourself you will find you have more energy and things don't stress you out as much as they used to.

5. You don't have to be everywhere at once. Married couples especially are subjected to this very common holiday stressor. They feel they have to attend all the family functions, no matter how hectic it may be for them. Decide before the holiday season where you will be going this year and then next year you can attend the

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