By: By Radha Marcum

As much as I love this time of year—its family gatherings and festivities—as the season progresses I inevitably feel overwhelmed by the added obligations. My shoulders seize up, my blood pressure rises, I get snappy with my spouse and kids (not to mention the poor checkout guy), and I start to need pie or chocolate for comfort. Sound familiar?

It's times like these that make stress-busting strategies a necessity. This year, I got proactive and consulted two life coaches. The pressures in my life weren't going anywhere, so what could I do to maintain a positive outlook and an even keel? The simple mental exercises below actually can stop stress from crashing your party—and even enhance the joy you feel.

Cultivate Your Bliss

"Happy memories are made from the emotional fabric of our time together, not the physical details like having a clean house, making the perfect meal, or throwing the perfect party," says Sue Frederick, a Boulder, Colorado-based life coach and author of Dancing at Your Desk (Frederick Malowany, 2004). If pressures to please everyone else are dragging you down, Frederick recommends doing at least three things every day that make you happy.

"It doesn't have to be anything really big," she says. "It can be as simple as swimming laps or enjoying a cup of your favorite tea." Boosting your own sense of well-being will give you more positive, joyful energy—"the best gift you can give your family and friends."

For more holiday tips for limiting stress, click here.

Radha Marcum