6 Steps to a Stress-Free Holiday Season

These six tips from the founder of The Stress Institute can help you have happier holidays.

The holiday season is prime time for stress, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether it’s your budget, your family or the prospect of an expanding waistline that’s grating on your nerves, there are ways to refocus on what holiday time should be about—having fun and relaxing. Dr. Kathleen Hall, founder and CEO of The Stress Institute shares six stress-busting tips that can help you have a calmer, more fulfilling holiday season.

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Jealous of Success

Do you ever feel jealous of your spouse’s success? Don’t let it sabotage your relationship.

When you’re supporting your spouse in going back to school, getting a promotion or achieving an important goal, your marriage couldn’t be better. You’re a team—and more important, you’re the mentor. But once that goal is reached and your sagely role is a distant memory, you may start feeling jealous that your spouse has overshadowed your accomplishments. And if the wife is the new achiever, this scenario can be particularly devastating because of the societal pressure men are under to achieve and excel.

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Spoiled Rotten

Think your spouse has spoiled your children too much? Here’s how to get back on the same page and deprogram the brattiness.

“Dad, can I get this?” asks your little one, holding up a toy on what was supposed to be a quick trip to Target for toilet paper. You say no—she doesn’t need one more toy that she’ll forget about in two days and then have it clutter up her room. But she starts whining. And even worse, she says, “But Mom would get it for me.” Now, before you go into a blind rage—at both your spouse (assuming your child’s statement is true) and your child—or just give in and buy the item, think about how and why your child expects and even demands unnecessary items from you and why your spouse is so willing to give in.

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Get Ready for Winter

Are you ready for the cold season? Take a look at these quick tips to expertly weather the winter.

Even if you don’t get snow, you still have to deal with some winter issues. From flu and colds to increased heating costs to just wanting to cozy up by a fire; are you ready for the months ahead? We gathered some tips you may not have thought of to save energy and money and keep your family and pets safe this winter.

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Halloween Gone Awry

Five families share their stories of Halloween hijinks.

Halloween doesn’t always go quite as planned. But what does? Check out these stories of spooky nights gone awry and you may just feel a bit better about forgetting to buy a bag of candy.

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Death of an In-Law

When your spouse is grieving, how can you help them cope?

No matter how many times you wished your mother-in-law were dead when she unexpectedly dropped in for a visit, would you be ready to cope with the real thing? When your spouse loses a parent, you may be thrown into an uncharted ocean of emotion you may not be ready for. “When a parent dies, part of your past dies,” says Heidi Horsley, a therapist and grief expert. The good news that comes along with this reminder of how fragile life is: It can bring you closer together.

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Pet-Obsessed Spouse

When one spouse is obsessed with the family dog but the other just doesn’t quite get it, what do you do?

When it comes to a relationship with man’s best friend, we often walk the fine line between love and obsession. There are luxury pet spas; gourmet, organic doggie bakeries; and high-end designers creating cute little carry-alls and edgy outfits for the littlest yappers. But pet obsession isn’t just an affliction for Paris Hilton-types. You probably know someone who goes a bit overboard when it comes to their pets. Maybe it’s you. And if your spouse doesn’t feel the same way towards Fido, or your fawning is infringing on your relationship, it may be time to reassess your priorities.

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School Jitters

You’re nervous about Junior starting school, but your spouse isn’t. Who’s being rational here?

As the summer winds down to a close and you’re hitting the first back-to-school sale of the season, you can’t help but get a little nervous. Will the teacher be mean? Will the little guy miss you too much? What if he gets picked on, or worse, doesn’t make any friends? Maybe you should hold your child back a year—he does seem young for his age.

You can’t stop your mind from racing. But, while you’re filled with worry and doubt, your spouse just says, “He needs to be a big boy,” and seems unsympathetic to your stress. What do you do then?

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Top Family-Friendly Wii Games

Take a look at the top family games for the Wii that get everyone up and playing.

Gone are the days when video games rot the mind and body. The Nintendo Wii for example has been hailed as a great family gaming system because most of its games are kid-friendly, the controls are intuitive and it can get everyone up and moving—not something you’d expect from a next-gen gaming system.

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9 Evening Activities

Let the kids stay up a little later than usual for one of these fun summer activities.

Your kids’ bedtime might be your favorite time of night on a lot of days. You finally get a chance to relax and unwind and step away from the chaos of the day. But sometimes it’s fun to stay up a little later than usual, let the kids feel a bit more grown up and take some extra special time to bond as a family. Summer is the perfect time to do it, and we’ve got some ideas to get you started.

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