With all the bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to become a little stressed out. Here's a simple, three step process to help you regain your equilibrium:

1)STOP. Take a deep breath.   Count to 10, think of something positive in your life, or say a prayer to focus and calm yourself.
2)REFLECT. Identify what you're feeling stressed or frustrated about in as simple terms as you can. "I'm annoyed with this long line." "I feel overwhelmed by how much I have to do."
3)ANALYZE and ACT. If you're having trouble focusing, try stepping back from the problem as if you were a third party. What would help ease your stress: Sitting down and prioritizing your to-do list? Calling a friend to vent? Saying "no" to an event or other request? Bringing a book when you go shopping to read while you wait in line? Find a solution that works for you, then act on it!

Furthermore if you stay in the moment this season, you'll eat, spend and stress less. A survey conducted by the American Psychological Association reported that 44% of women experience increased feelings of stress during the holiday season and are much more likely than men to turn to unhealthy behaviors such as emotional eating or drinking alcohol in order to mange stress.

Eating
Pinpoint the Cause. Ask yourself if you use food and drink to cope with social anxiety at parties or the stress of family tensions. Or perhaps you view the holidays as a license to eat.
Take Stock. When tempted to overindulge, pause long enough to place a hand on your belly and take a deep breath. This shifts your awareness away from your thoughts and into your body, which has a much better grasp of whether or not you're really hungry.
Watch for Cues. Be on the lookout for triggers that send you to food.
Steer Clear. Remove yourself from the places where you're most likely to be tempted.

Gift Giving
Reduce the Competition. Try giving family gifts anonymously.
Think Outside the Gift Box. Donate to a charity in somebody's name or buy a gift certificate for a service or class.
Build a Consensus. If you want to change the way your family gives gifts, talk about it as a group and be prepared to strike a balance between your ideals and everyone else's.

Getting Together
Prepare. Decide what kind of holiday you want and what's really important to you. Write down your priorities and values.
Make it Your Own. You may find that changing traditional ways of doing things will mean a happier holiday.
Limit Expectations. Some people think that they'll be able to make up for past hurts by having the perfect celebration with the right meal or the right gift.
Be Part of the Solution. Remember that other people feel stress around the holidays.   Make a contribution to your family's peace and happiness by deciding to tolerate something that once made you upset.
Keep Breathing. When you feel your stress level rising, take a deep breath to slow your heart, calm your mind, and lower your blood pressure.

From: Natural Health December 2007/January 2008