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"3 Ways to Beat the Holiday Stress It&amp;#039;s the most wonderful time of the year\u2014but also one of the most stressful! From work and social commitments to last-minute shopping and overscheduled travel plans, the holiday season can take a toll on your sanity. Make the season more enjoyable by stopping stress in its tracks with these three tips: 1. Try the STOP Method Stephan Bodian, world-renowned meditation teacher and author of the MentalWorkout programs, offers this mindfulness technique to combat stress with the STOP method, a mental time-out. It&amp;#039;s perfect for when you are dealing with difficult in-laws or in the middle of a crowded mall. Stop what you&amp;#039;re doing. Take a breath, then spend a few moments breathing naturally and noticing the coming and going of your breath. Observe your thoughts and feelings as if they were passing clouds. Let any stressful thoughts drift away; don&amp;#039;t allow them to linger like a storm cloud. Proceed with doing something positive that will benefit you in the moment, such as offering a compliment to a family member or noticing the holiday spirit around you.  2. Use visualization: If you are anxious over a long to-do list, spend a few minutes imagining yourself taking a refreshing shower under a waterfall in the tropics, picturing the water cascading down your body. Bodian suggests that the mental imagery can help wash away all the stress and leave you feeling exhilarated and renewed. 3. Splurge for a massage End a hectic holiday shopping trip with some &amp;quot;me time&amp;quot; on a massage table. Research shows that massage therapy can reduce stress significantly while decreasing blood pressure and heart rate. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) can help you find a qualified massage therapist this holiday season by visiting findamassagetherapist.org. (Or you can ask your partner for a back rub!) "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/a48142/3-ways-to-beat-the-holiday-stress/>