MANILA, Philippines - It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the Holidays may be the most stressful for some people, too.
This is because it brings a "dizzying array of demands—parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining" that one may not be able to cope with.
How does one stave off the stress and truly enjoy the season with family and friends?
"Don't overcommit yourself and prevent holiday anxiety and pressure," the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests, adding "Get enough sleep."
Mayo Clinic, meanwhile, advises being realistic about one's expectations.
"The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones," it suggests.
The online health portal of the non-profit medical care and research group also suggests to say "no."
"Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity. If it's not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time," it says.
"Deep breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization can evoke a state of rest and release," says P.J. Skerret of Harvard Health. "Doing them can slow your heartbeat, calm your breathing, lower your blood pressure, and help you chill out."
He offers these following techniques from the Harvard Medical School's "Stress Management"—one to ten-minute exercises that range from simple techniques as relaxing your facial muscles to giving yourself a self-massage.
Lastly, take this advice from the American Psychological Association: "Remember what's important."
It says: "The barrage of holiday advertising can make you forget what the holiday season is really about. When your holiday expense list is running longer than your monthly budget, scale back and remind yourself that what makes a great celebration is loved ones, not store-bought presents, elaborate decorations or gourmet food."
In the meantime, de-stress yourself with this "Late Night" YouTube video featuring Mariah Carey, The Roots and Jimmy Fallon.