10 Surefire Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 13, 2006 -- For some people the holidays are a time for friends, family, and relaxation, but for most the pressure to get everything done and be merry is just too much. Bickering relatives, end-of-year office demands, feuding friends and over-stimulated children add their own strong tugs on your patience and already overflowing To-Do list. It�s enough to make anyone want to hibernate until spring.

�There is an easy way to sidestep holiday stress and feel rested and joyous,� says social psychologist and author of THE BOOK OF NO: 250 WAYS TO SAY IT�AND MEAN IT AND STOP PEOPLE-PLEASING FOREVER (McGraw-Hill). �Once put into action, the power of the word �no� is limitless,� notes Dr. Newman. �It eliminates the need to push yourself to the max or to spend the holidays somewhere other than where you want to be.�

If you�re in the habit of saying �yes� when you really want and need to say �no,� here are ten tips to ease the awkwardness and difficulty of refusing others with setting off your guilt-meter:

TEN TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR HOLIDAY STRESS

1. When approached with a request, pause and briefly analyze what is really being asked of you.
2. Allow other people in your life to take control. You don�t have to do everything alone.

3. If you decide to say �yes� to something, whether it is helping a friend shop for gifts or decorating for a party, be very specific about the amount of time you have to devote to the task.
4. Don�t be wishy-washy about decisions that involve changes to expected rituals.
5. How you decide to celebrate a holiday needs no explanation.
6. Try repeating an affirmation to help you stick to your decisions: �I will not give in,� for instance.
7. The word �no� said politely is enough to convey your message. The fewer excuses you make, the stronger the message.
8. Try altering a request to make it, or part of it, more manageable.

9. Don�t fret over the consequences of your �no.� In general, people don�t think about you as much as you worry about what they think.
10. Most importantly, you can say �no� and still remain a caring, committed person.

Remind yourself daily that saying �no� is liberating, and to say it is your right. The word �NO� is the only stress-buster you�ll need this year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHY YOU AGREE TOO OFTEN AND HOW TO STOP THE HABIT, GO TO WWW.THEBOOKOFNO.COM.

To receive more details on the 10 Tips or to arrange an interview, contact Susan Newman by e-mail at: newman@susannewmanphd.com

More information can be found online at http://thebookofno.com

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