- Set realistic expectations for time and giving. Don’t over-program or be shamed into buying more than you can afford. - Try something new. If this is the first holiday away from a loved one, plan to volunteer to help others have a special holiday, or visit friends or family not often seen. “By focusing the happiness you bring to others you often will find that happiness yourself,” Strenio said. - Choose to be with supportive people. - De-commercialize the holidays and give to the needy, not the greedy. - Say “no” to dreaded commitments or ones that are too time-consuming. “The resentment, which often follows if you don't, will take its toll on your physical and mental health,” she said. - Take care of the basics, which include sleep, exercise, and nutrition. - Do an attitude check. “Examine your ‘stinking thoughts’ that can lead to distress. Change how you think about things to change how you feel,” she said. - Stop trying to change others.