"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more" says The Grinch in Dr. Seuss' classic tale. Its easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. Finding the perfect gift (even if it means scouring several stores at all hours of the night to find this years must-have item) often becomes the focus of the holiday season. The pressure to create the "perfect" holiday can create stress and anxiety. So lets try something different.

1. Don't try to create prefection. Finding the perfect gift, cooking the perfect holiday meal, hosting the perfect party; when you aim for perfection you are usually going to fall short leading to feelings of disappointment, failure, worry, and sadness. These feelings may trigger overeating or other maladaptive coping behaviors. Try to practice acceptance. You weren't able to snag Let's Rock Elmo at the mall? Instead of catastrophizing that Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Festivus has been ruined, take a few breaths and try to accept the current situation. Has this turn of events really ruined the holiday? If so, okay, try to resolve the issue. But more likely, your family will be able to have an enjoyable and meaningful holiday without the toy. And they will appreciate your calm presence in contrast to the frazzled state that you would be in if you were out all night fighting your neighbor at the mall over the toy.