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" Your good cheer (and patience!) is disappearing faster than Santa&amp;#039;s cookies. When you find yourself on the brink of losing it, try these tension tamers.   Stress Zone #1: You&amp;#039;re barreling through throngs of mall shoppers on the hunt for a last-minute gift.   Quick Fix: Step up to the department store perfume counter, peruse the testers and dab on a lemony fragrance. According to researchers at Ohio State University, lemon scents instantly boost your mood.   Stress Zone #2: That massive pile of holiday cards needs to get mailed ASAP, but just the thought of it gives you writer&amp;#039;s cramp.   Quick Fix: &amp;quot;Refocus on what&amp;#039;s most important to you,&amp;quot; says life coach Linda Hedberg. &amp;quot;If you&amp;#039;re overwhelmed with dozens of cards to send out, ask yourself, Which are the 10 most important ones?&amp;quot; Send those and put the rest on the back burner. Or just send an e-card to everyone on your list. Bonus: It&amp;#039;s eco-friendly!   Stress Zone #3: You&amp;#039;re dragging your kids off to see The Nutcracker\u2014it&amp;#039;s a tradition!\u2014but they&amp;#039;re whining every step of the way.   Quick Fix: Make a switch. True, families thrive on traditions, but it&amp;#039;s less about the event itself, which your kids may have outgrown, and more about time together. If your kids are complaining, drop expensive, high-stress rituals in favor of something simple and universally appealing, like a Christmas Eve chocolate-chip pancake feast. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/wellness/advice/a4328/quick-fixes-for-common-holiday-stressors-100191/>