<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" We all look forward to Christmas\u2014sparkling decorations, jolly window displays and carols everywhere. But then there&amp;#039;s the other part\u2014difficult-to-please relatives, family squabbles and the fatigue from trying to get everything done. We asked WD readers for their best tips on relieving the stress. Follow their advice and you, too, will sail through the season\u2014and still love your family once it&amp;#039;s over. 1. Ask for help. Delegate your to-do list by giving each family member a task, no matter how trivial. Even the kids can pitch in. &amp;quot;If they can&amp;#039;t do the decorating, cooking or gift- wrapping, then they can shovel snow, help you clean or run errands,&amp;quot; says Jeri Heckel of Hamilton, Ohio. And if you&amp;#039;re the hostess, ask everyone to bring something for the meal. 2. Lower your expectations. Quit thinking that you have to be Martha Stewart. &amp;quot;Keep menus straightforward and cut down on various drinks by just serving a big bowl of punch. Simplify in every way you can,&amp;quot; says Ildiko Sherman of Middletown, Ohio. &amp;quot;Concentrate on the meaning of the holiday and forget about showing off.&amp;quot; 3. Get some rest. &amp;quot;I get a good night&amp;#039;s sleep and try to designate 15 minutes of quiet time for myself every day, even when I have overnight guests,&amp;quot; says Sandra Yircott of Dowagiac, Michigan. &amp;quot;If I&amp;#039;m well-rested, I tend to be less frazzled,&amp;quot; she says. 4. Pamper yourself. &amp;quot;I work out three times a week and take a spa day for myself during Christmastime,&amp;quot; says Laney Podell of Woodland Hills, California. She also likes to bond with her son by walking around the neighborhood every night. 5. Make gift-giving easier. Instead of running from store to store like a crazy person, give tickets to the movies, a concert or a museum. &amp;quot;Event tickets are so easy,&amp;quot; says Suzie Wilson of Montpelier, Vermont. She and her husband have given family members tickets to their local theater company and to a Boston Red Sox game. &amp;quot;Holidays are about sharing love and experiences with the people we hold most dear. Besides, an &amp;#039;experience&amp;#039; gift is often an indulgence family and friends wouldn&amp;#039;t do for themselves,&amp;quot; says Suzie. 6. Spend time with your kids. Family time often gets pushed aside with everything there is to do, so Tara Haidinger of San Angelo, Texas, likes to do activities with just her husband and kids, such as watching holiday movies on TV. Also, don&amp;#039;t be afraid to excuse yourself from family happenings. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s OK if you don&amp;#039;t go to every party and event,&amp;quot; says Tara. 7. Reminisce about the past. Feel the true spirit of the season by pulling out old photo albums to recall funny holiday stories. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s so much fun to talk about when we were kids and laugh about how we used to look,&amp;quot; says Penny Hayter of Grapevine, Texas. 8. Spread out events. &amp;quot;When my kids were little, we used to visit my husband&amp;#039;s parents in the morning, mine in the afternoon, and my husband&amp;#039;s grandparents in the evening,&amp;quot; says Kelly Saumur of Temecula, California. &amp;quot;It was just too much. Plus, the kids would get tired and cranky.&amp;quot; Now the family spreads out their visits. &amp;quot;Your family and friends will love you the same whether you see them on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or even a couple of days afterward,&amp;quot; she says. 9. Avoid the drama. Having the whole family together means a lot of personalities in one place, a petri dish for conflict. &amp;quot;Take a step back and try not to follow old scripts that lead to heated discussions and hurt feelings,&amp;quot; says Cherie Baldwin of Deerfield Beach, Florida. &amp;quot;Try to accept family as they are. If that isn&amp;#039;t something you can do, make plans to be away.&amp;quot; 10. Be prepared. &amp;quot;You need to be accommodating of your family&amp;#039;s changing needs,&amp;quot; says Cathy Pemberton of Richmond, Virginia. Elderly parents and relatives with young children may need extra help or have dietary restrictions. Knowing this in advance will keep you from being thrown off guard when something comes up. 11. Carve out one-on-one time. &amp;quot;There&amp;#039;s no need to spend every moment with the entire family,&amp;quot; says Amy Ho of Fort Collins, Colorado. Go shopping with your cousins and later take your niece for a manicure. &amp;quot;This helps keep stress to a minimum, and lets you spend quality time with each family member alone,&amp;quot; she says. 12. Relax. Things may not always work out as planned, but that&amp;#039;s no reason to get stressed. Sandra Murden of Virginia Beach, Virginia, realizes that her family will still love and appreciate her even if her cooking is not up to par or the gifts aren&amp;#039;t exactly right. &amp;quot;Sometimes the mishaps are what really make the day memorable,&amp;quot; she says. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/wellness/a53/i-m-dreaming-of-the-right-christmas/>