The holidays are here, and with it can come unwanted stress. The good news is that there are simple ways that you can relieve stress from your own home. So when you start feeling overwhelmed from shopping, baking, cleaning and planning holiday parties, remember these tips to help you relieve some stress!

Set a Budget and Stick With It

Nothing stresses people out quicker than money. To be more accurate, it is the lack of money that stresses people. When it comes time to buying gifts this year, be sure to set yourself a reasonable budget. Determine how much you have and how much you are going to spend on the people for whom you need to buy gifts.

After setting a budget, remember to stick with it! After all, a budget is only as good as your ability to follow it.

Understand Your Limits

During the holidays, people love to give 110 percent. That being said, you also have to remember that everyone has limits, and you need to respect yours. By understanding your own limits, you can avoid reaching your breaking point.

When you become overrun by holiday tasks, ask others to lend a hand! It is the time of year for sharing, so share some of those responsibilities with others!

Try to Keep Things Small

At some point, everyone figured that the bigger their holiday party was, the more fun it was. The truth is that, the bigger the party, the more stress you are putting on yourself. Instead of trying to go all out this holiday season, try to keep your gatherings more intimate. Don’t worry about inviting all of your friends and every family member!

One year of not sending cards and spreading Christmas cheer is not going to ruin any of your relationships.

Don’t Become the “Yes” Man

Do not say, “Yes,” to every request that you get. During the holiday season, we tend to find ourselves saying, “Yes,” a lot more often than what we normally do. It is the holiday season, after all. However, saying, “Yes,” to every request that you get puts a lot of pressure on you, which raises your stress level. By turning down some commitments, you may find yourself with a little extra free time this holiday season.

Take Some Time to Listen to Music

There is nothing that is more relaxing than sitting back and listening to some music. It doesn’t have to be holiday music; it can be any kind of music that you find relaxing. Try setting up your own personal radio station on Rdio or Pandora. Listening to music while you are working or setting up a holiday party is a great way to stay relaxed and tension free.