Try to keep level of holiday stess down

Instead of emptying that bottle of pinot or finishing off the peanut butter brownies, why not give serious thought to some anti-stress advice for the holiday season, courtesy of the American Psychological Association.

• Set expectations. Make realistic choices about what you can and can’t manage to celebrate the season; don’t overwhelm yourself with goals that are too much for a busy time. Talk to your kids in advance about gifts and holiday activities; it’s a good opportunity to teach them about responsible spending.

• Make connections. View the holidays as a time to reconnect with family and friends and establish good relationships. Accept help and support from those who care about you. Volunteer at a local charity to help others, and involve your children in this effort.

• Take care of yourself. Keep mind and body healthy and primed to deal with stressful situations. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings during the busy weeks, and seek out activities that you and your family find fun and relaxing. Get kids away from the TV (and the barrage of advertisements) with family outings.

• Keep things in perspective. Consider stressful situations in a broader context and avoid blowing disagreements or disappointments out of proportion. If this particular holiday doesn’t go perfectly, it’s not the worst thing that ever happened. There’s always next year.