Your time and budget — do the math

It’s not too soon to start planning and budgeting for the holidays.

• Make a list. “If you don’t have one already, make a list of all the things you want to get done in preparation for the holidays,” she advises. “Include everything from gifts you still need to buy, food for your holiday dinner, decorations, and travel details if you’re going out of town.” Include as much detail as possible.
• Get real. Now, go over your list and start to put timelines to each task. “Know that in many cases you can’t do everything so start scratching things off the list that aren’t absolutely necessary,” says Ms. Baun. “These can go onto a ‘if there’s time’ list.” If you’re having company, keep in mind that your guests will remember how you made them feel rather than if the bathroom was freshly painted or the coffee cups matched your china pattern.
• Delegate and ask for help. “You can’t do everything on your own — nor should you,” she says. “Enlist the help of your family to get your baking done, the decorations up and the presents wrapped. Or be honest with friends and family about ways they can help.” Remember that asking someone to bring something as a simple as a salad means it’s off your plate.
• Create a budget and stick to it. “Money can be a cause of stress at anytime during the year. It can be even worse during the holidays — or a month later when your credit card statement arrives,” she says. Review your list, set a realistic budget and stick to it. That may mean paring down on some gifts, but remember that creative and personal gifts can be a bigger hit than expensive flash-in-the-plan items.

Your lifestyle — keep it healthy

“Mental health is part and parcel of overall good health” explains Kismet Baun. “The good news is that what’s good for your physical self is also good for stress control.”

• Exercise. Even a brisk 30-minute walk can help keep your energy and your spirits up, thanks to feel-good chemicals called endorphins. “If you don’t have time for your usual fitness routine, get in as much exercise as possible, even in short bursts.”
• Eat right. Crash dieting before the holidays or over-doing it during the festivities can have a negative effect on your energy level — just when you need it most.  “You should also limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine — which can cause nervousness.”
• Get enough sleep. “Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night,” she says. “We now know that while some people may be accustomed to five hours or less, that amount could lead to health problems in the long term.”
• Carve out time to chill. “Down time can be anything from taking a bath, reading a book or magazine, listening to music or going for a leisurely walk,” suggests our expert.

Lighten up your relationships

The holidays are not the time to bring family squabbles to the fore, so try to take a light-hearted approach.

“If you have uncomfortable family relationships, remember that you only need to tolerate them for a short time,” advises Ms. Baun. “We all have different personalities that sometimes clash, and while it’s important to work through challenging relationships, plan to do that after the holidays.”

Another problem is trying to be all things to all family members and feeling guilty if you don’t succeed. “That’s not a good idea,” says our expert. “It’s better to learn to say no to obligations that will stretch you too thin.”