Focus on the Fun During the Festivities

SATURDAY, Dec. 18 (HealthDayNews) -- All that travel, socializing and shopping can turn the holiday season into a real stress fest.

"During the holidays, our lives become even more stressful as we try to juggle our usual responsibilities with extra holiday preparation and complicated family dynamics," Dr. Gail Saltz, a psychiatrist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell, said in a prepared statement.

"This year, try to keep your holiday stress to a minimum by prioritizing what is important to you and then planning how you will get it done," Saltz said.

She offered the following tips:

• Don''t wait until the last minute to make plans. If you can''t arrange anything with family members, try to plan some time with friends.
• Don''t try to do everything. Choose the things you can do and enjoy them. Prioritize the events that mean the most to you and your family.
• When it comes to gift shopping, remember that it''s the thought that counts. Don''t get caught up in perfectionism or competitiveness.
• Keep it simple. You don''t need to bake 20 different kinds of cookies.
• Be realistic in your expectations for family gatherings so you don''t risk being disappointed or frustrated.
• Plan carefully so you can accomplish several errands on one trip. That way, you''ll have more time to do the things you really want to do.
• Take time to contemplate what the holiday really means to you and your family, such as time together, religious observance, and reflecting on your life and future goals.

More information

The National Mental Health Association has more about holiday stress and depression.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: New York-Presbyterian Hospital, news release, December 2004