For most people, Christmas season is a fun time filled with parties, celebrations, and social gatherings. But for some, it is a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and anxiety. Here are tips on how to prevent holiday stress and depression and how to balance the demands it brings.

1. Acknowledge your feelings
If someone close to you recently passed away, you cannot force yourself to be happy. It is normal to feel sadness and grief. It is okay to take time to cry and express your feelings.

2. Reach out
If you feel lonely, isolated, or stressed, it may help to talk to a family member or a friend about your concerns. Try reaching out with a text, a call, or a video chat. Volunteering your time or doing something to help others is also a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.

3. Be realistic
As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to and be open to creating new ones. Even though your holiday plans may look different this year, you can find ways to celebrate, and it does not have to be perfect.

4. Set aside differences
Try to accept family members and friends as they are. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry.

5. Stick to the budget
Before you do your gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Do not try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts.

6. Plan ahead
Set aside specific days to do your holiday activities like shopping. Make your shopping list and plan your menus. This will help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten gifts or ingredients.

7. Learn to say no
Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you cannot participate in every project or activity.

8. Do not abandon healthy habits
Do not let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt.

9. Take a breather
Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing, and restoring inner calm.

10. Seek professional help if you need it
Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.