Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, opportunities for stress are ever-present. Here's how to sail through the merriment without losing your cool.

• Smile! Again, sometimes easier said than done when a distant relative is making comments about your hair style/love life/children during Thanksgiving Dinner. However, smiling is great medicine. When you smile, the nerves in your face send a message to your brain "telling" it that you are happy. Smile and you will feel happier.
• Just say "No!" There's no way that you can do everything this season. So, decide where to save and where to splurge, whether in terms of time or money. You'll feel more relaxed with fewer commitments.
• Exercise several days a week. Even taking a brisk walk helps. Exercise helps lower anxiety levels, releases endorphins, and helps work off those extra sweets you ate at the office party.
• Before you go to sleep at night, or while sitting at your desk during the work day, take ten deep breaths. Breathe all the way in to the pit of your stomach, and exhale slowly. This will slow your heart rate, oxygenate your blood and calm yourself down.
• Identify your favorite parts of the holidays and make sure that you incorporate those into your plan for the season. If you love the music, tune in while you run errands, or steal your sweetie away for a date night to a seasonal concert. If decorating cookies is your favorite thing, make oodles, and give them away. Don't skip your favorite traditions in order to make everyone else happy. Give yourself some cheer, too!

Stay stress-free this season, and you'll help everyone around you enjoy the season more, too!