Verified by 
This post has been co-authored with Dr. Deepak Chopra
The human stress response is a survival instinct designed for emergency situations like running away from a predator or fighting to overcome a violent adversary. However stress in modern day life comes from our "fight or flight" instincts being triggered in the absence of hungry predators. Ironically the Holidays, in spite anticipation of relaxing family time and cozy moments by the fireplace, often end up stressful and overwhelming, activating primal stress triggers. Add to the mix the mild fall we've had this year, making it feel like the Holidays came as a complete surprise and you're sure to see some ultra stressed individuals around you during the next few weeks, wondering how it is December already, walking around with dilated pupils, racing hearts, and short of breath while mailing cards, buying gifts, and making dinner plans.
This year, let's all try to enjoy the Holidays for what they are: a designated time of the year where our jobs, commutes, bills, and appointments make way to our family and friends. Here are a few useful tools to carry in your stress management toolbox:
Schedule downtime in your calendar:
Make sure you schedule at least 5-6 hours a week where you have absolutely no commitments. During this time do not answer the phone, look at email, text or Twitter. Try to spend the majority of this time by yourself, exercising, reading, or meditating.
Prepare for difficult encounters with friends and family:
In recent years more people move frequently between states and sometimes between countries. As a result, deep and meaningful relationships get cut-off and reunited only during the Holidays. The depth and strength of such positive relationships frequently turns into negative energy of the same magnitude once people are physically set apart and old grudges and conflicts tend to arise. Before reuniting with old friends and family members, think of each person you are about to see, and write down one thing that evokes your anger or resentment. Then figure out a way to deal with your feelings before the actual meeting by talking to a friend or writing in your journal. The key is to get the toxicity out of your system before the actual gathering.
Give others that one little thing they long for:
There's no better feeling than knowing that you've made someone genuinely smile. Think about people you will see that you have not seen in a while and what they truly want: sometimes a little gesture goes a long way. Be sure to recognize and praise the recent accomplishments of others and provide a word of comfort for those whose experiences have not been favorable.
Recognize that others have changed:
Families love placing sticky labels on people: one person is the lazy dude, the other the eligible bachelor, and someone else is the professor. Being categorized in a single way inevitably means not recognizing that people do change. If you dislike your label, just ignore it, and make sure you recognize the changes you see in others. Think of your family members as they are today and as they seek to be in the future and not the way they have been labeled in the past.
Put a stress emergency kit in your pocket
Carry in your pocket a de-stressing activity that you can do on the go and in public places: on the train, in a mall, or in a coffee shop. You can use a small pocketbook that for journaling on the go, your cell phone's camera for taking pictures of happy moments you encounter, or, if you carry a smart mobile device, one of the many emerging mobile software applications that can help you stay centered and in tune with yourself even in the most hectic scenarios.
Get enough sleep
Last but not least - try to get solid eight hours of sleep each night despite the burden of errands. Sleep deprivation is a recipe for aggravation over meaningless little things and - it accumulates. So by the time you are done sending the cards and buying the presents you are setting yourself up for a stressful and uneasy Holiday dinner.
May your Holiday season be stress free and full of new beginnings and new best memories for the future. Happy Holidays!
