This is supposed to be the season of reflection, celebration, and resolution, but instead it seems like we are in a massive web of stress. From packed parking lots to financial woes – there is definitely plenty to stress about during the holiday season and every other time of year, but what you may not realize is the toll you put on your health when you are stressed.

Stress can cause a plethora of ailments including headaches, back and chest pain, high blood pressure, decreased immunity, stomach upset, and sleep problems. Emotionally, it can cause anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, forgetfulness, inability to focus and feelings of insecurity. Behavioral problems include overeating, undereating, drug and alcohol abuse, social withdrawal, crying spells and relationship conflicts. If you’ve ever experienced any of these symptoms, than it is likely you have suffered from stress.

Many, if not most, things in life are out of our control. We can’t control the other drivers on the road, the slower-than-preferred service at a restaurant, or the weather. All we can do is control how we react to these stressors.

Here are a few helpful tips to get you on your way to a less stressful holiday season and hopefully for good.

Take time for YOU – It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday parties and shopping, but it’s important to find time each day for yourself. It can be as easy as taking 10 minutes to read a magazine or treating yourself to a massage. What have you done for yourself lately?

Accept help from others – Hosting a holiday party? Ask guests to bring something that will shorten your list of responsibilities. Whether it’s extra chairs or a side dish, asking guests to participate in the event makes them feel more involved and makes your preparations easier so you can focus on other things… like taking a few minutes for yourself!

Move your body – Physical activity is a great way to relieve stress. Don’t feel like you have enough time for your usual workout? That’s ok – just make sure you get moving, even for a few minutes. It helps!

Cut the caffeine – Caffeine stimulates the same effects on our body as stress. Jittery, nervous, poor sleep, heartburn and muscle aches are just a few of the side effects of caffeine and symptoms of stress. Take it out of your diet and I bet you will feel pleasantly surprised!

Get some sleep – Ever notice that whenever you’re stressed you’re also exhausted? Make it a point to get to bed earlier or set your alarm for later in the morning. You will feel refreshed and be more productive with the time you have.

Find balance – Athletes don’t play an entire game without a break, so lets start holding ourselves to the same expectation! We can’t work from sunrise til sunset only to rush home and keep running all night long. Balance is important.

Have realistic expectations – Only a super hero is capable of working a full day, then finding gifts for everyone on her list and wrapping them before bedtime. Be realistic about what you are capable of completing in a day, a week, a month, etc. You will feel a lot better about yourself when you go to bed at the end of the day being able to cross off all of your “to-do” items instead of only half of them. 

Reframing – According to David B. Posen, MD, “This is one of the most powerful and creative stress reducers. Reframing is a technique used to change the way you look at things in order to feel better about them.” There are many ways to interpret a situation; the key is to pick the right perspective.  This doesn’t mean changing or denying the truth about what happened. Start by looking for the positive outcomes in a negative situation. Also consider why a person might act the way they do. You’ll feel calmer and less stressed when you choose to “reframe” a certain situation instead of dwelling on the negative attitude of the checkout girl or crabby boss.