Mastering the craft of stressing less does not mean that you learn to adapt to stress, but instead means that you find ways to remove it from your life in the first place. The holiday season is once again upon us, and, for some, it can be the most stressful time of the entire year.

"This dichotomy is relected in the findings of a 2015 survey conducted by Healthline, a consumer health information site based in San Francisco, Calif. Sixty-two percent of respondents described their stress level as 'very or somewhat' elevated during the season. Among the holiday stressors listed by respondents were the financial demands of the season, negotiating the interpersonal dynamics of family, and maintaining personal health habits such as an exercise regimen." Scott Edwards, On the Brain: The Harvard Mahoney Neuroscience Institute Letter



Accept stress for what it is.

Stress is born when you desire something to be different but feel powerless to change the situation. In order to overcome this and achieve more, you must be prepared to cognitively identify what is triggering you so you are capable of dealing with it.

Make an irritation list.

Jack Canfield, co-creator of The Chicken Soup for the Soul book serious came up with this idea. It's not your normal to-do, grocery, or any other list we make for ourselves. An irritation list is where you write down everything that is irritating you that day. It can be anything. Around the holidays you are probably around family members that you always clash with, and sometimes conversations can catch you off guard if you aren't prepared. Put everything you can think of on this list.

By making an irritation list, you're going to feel better by putting all that junk on paper. This practice puts it in perspective so you can actually mentally prepare for conflict before it even happens. After making this list, begin to make your battle plan for how you are going to combat your triggers.

Write down a vision for yourself.

This is a hard one. Write down a journal type vision for how you want your life to look. Think about the goals you want to achieve. What would your life look like if you were actively setting goals for yourself and actually making them happen.

Change is a hard thing, but it is very, very empowering when we work towards the life you have always dreamed of.

Stop comparing yourself to others.

When you compare yourself to other people, be it family, friends,  co-workers, or anyone, you take the focus off of yourself. You can idolize someone else's life, but you have no clue what they are experiencing beneath the surface. Especially sitting around the holiday table, it can be very difficult to be proud of yourself when you feel to be in competition with those around you.

Purge untrue thoughts.

You must learn a new way to think before you will learn a new way to live. Behind every stress-inducing emotion is an untrue thought or idea. Change your thought process to change your entire life.

Take care of your body.

Taking care of your body is one of the best stress combats that exist. A good workout is the best stress reducer, and a healthy body is the best fashion statement. The pursuit to taking care of your body is a journey for sure - a constant struggle, a lifestyle. You must hold the vision while trusting the process for reaching your fitness goals for yourself.

However, even the longest of journeys begin with a simple step. Start by committing to thirty minutes of uninterrupted exercise every single day, and drinking an extra twelve ounce glass of water in the morning, afternoon, and evening. These two simple steps alone will make you look and feel like your better self.

Do one thing every day to treat yourself.

Put yourself first, especially this holiday season. There is nobody who deserves your respect, kindness, and love more than you. When you learn to treat yourself well, everything around you falls into place.

You are worth it!