Woman’s Day magazine has published a helpful list of “29 Tips Towards A Stress-Free Holiday.” Among some of our favorites: Throw away your shopping list and focus instead on creating special moments with friends and family. Treat loved ones to a holiday show, for example, or breakfast at a fancy hotel. Another idea: Bring out books to easily add a seasonal touch. Display an illustrated volume of A Christmas Carol on the fireplace mantle.
Other tips include keeping gatherings small and intimate, buying extra tape and gift tags, and—when shopping—seeking out the out-of-the way cashiers that sometimes hide in the back of a store.
And one last suggestion: Hold on to daily rituals. Maintain those practices that keep you sane the rest of the year, like reading before bed.