Give yourself the gift of a low-stress holiday

Four easy stress-busters to keep you jolly

Snowmen are popping up around the neighborhood, department store door-buster deals are breathlessly announced on TV and the smells of cinnamon and pine fill the air. The winter holiday season is here in full force.

For some, this time of year signifies a chance to reflect and be thankful, to reconnect with friends and family and to relax. For others, it's a stress-filled race to the finish, jammed with last-minute shopping and an overflowing calendar of events and temptations to overindulge.

If that last bit sounds familiar, maybe it's time for you to start a new holiday tradition: striving for less stress and more fun. Here are four easy tips to keep you chilled out and jolly as can be.

What's the plan?
Crafting a "holiday game plan" immediately lowers your stress level. It's never too late to map out your priorities, budget and schedule, and it doesn't take a lot of time.

Start with your priorities. Is it most important to have a gorgeous, lavishly decorated Christmas tree? Or do you place a high value on traveling to visit family and friends? Do you want to host an elaborate meal or event or just enjoy some laid-back caroling? Actions that hold the most meaning for you should be ranked at the top of your list.

Next, create a holiday budget, keeping your priority list in mind. Decide what your entire spending limit is for the season, and divide it into categories like dining out, decorating, gifts, household groceries, travel and donations. Allocate your funds to the activities you treasure most, and create a way to track your expenses every day. (Consider simplifying your gift giving by making one charitable donation in the names of friends and family. Shopping dilemmas solved!)

Now it's time to organize your schedule. Can you cook and freeze a few meals in advance? Make a date with yourself to do so. Do you typically race to the post office at the last minute? Plan to buy stamps online to skip the crowds, and order preprinted cards (some companies will even address and mail them for you). Schedule time for shopping, gift wrapping, cooking, cleaning, pampering and anything else you need to do, just like you would schedule a doctor's appointment.

Finally: Respect your plan. You've committed to making good use of your time, money and energy—a fantastic gift to yourself.

Embrace imperfection
Who doesn't love a perfectly decorated Christmas tree, carefully frosted homemade cookies and color-coordinated household-wide decorations? They all sound great, but do you really have time to do all that and enjoy yourself? Expecting perfection in every detail is a recipe for disaster.

Instead, pick one thing you love to do, and enjoy the process of doing it very well. Then accept that the rest of the details may not be perfect but can still be fun. Have a tree decorating party with friends; so what if the right side has more ornaments than the left? Use premixed dough instead of baking cookies from scratch; they'll still taste great. Don't search high and low for perfect candles to match your décor; go with basic white, which looks good anywhere and creates just as much ambience. Bye-bye perfection, hello fun.

Be a rule-breaker
For the past 10 years, you've worked hard to plan and host holiday meals, including tables full of homemade dishes because that's how it's always been. Why not skip it this year? There's no rule that says you have to be the hostess every time. Instead, order in or ask someone else to host.

Holidays are rich with traditions, but you're not duty-bound to uphold them. This year, try creating your own new traditions, ones that better suit your lifestyle. Maybe your big meal becomes a potluck, or you take a tropical vacation, or volunteer at a food pantry with friends. It's up to you—it's your holiday, after all!

Don't forget downtime
Often lost in the holiday rush are some of the most pleasurable moments, the ones that help us reconnect with the past and enjoy the present. Take time whenever you can to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of a cup of hot chocolate, a roaring fire, the twinkle of colored lights or the glitter of fresh snow. Pause each day to inhale the fragrance of your wreath or to giggle at your cousin's reindeer sweater. Honor the memories of loved ones by sharing stories of holidays past, and meditate on what the season means to you—things like generosity, togetherness, gratitude and peace.