Dear Reader,

While the holiday season can be filled with joy and wonderful moments with family and friends, for many it often also brings unwanted guests — stress and anxiety.

Managing stress with temporary escapes like alcohol, drugs or food can be tempting. And although you shouldn’t feel bad about occasionally stress-eating a brownie, it’s important to learn a few stress management techniques as healthy ways of dealing with stress that work for you.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise and plenty of sleep
Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, massage or meditation
Keep a journal and write about your thoughts or what you’re grateful for in your life
Take time for hobbies, such as reading, listening to music, or watching your favorite show or movie
Foster healthy friendships and talking with friends and family
Find ways to include humor and laughter in your life, such as watching funny movies or looking at joke websites
Volunteer in your community
Organize and prioritize what you need to accomplish at home and remove tasks that aren’t necessary
Seek professional counseling, which can help you develop specific coping strategies to manage stress

Learning to identify your stressors and how you best deal with them takes practice. You won’t get it perfect every time, and that’s alright. The important thing is to make healthy progress. Once you start enjoying benefits like reduced anxiety, improved health and more fulfilling relationships you’ll also get better at managing stress in ways that work for you.