Sometimes the best way to keep the monkeys off our backs is to not let them climb on us in the first place. In other words, quite often our stress is self-induced – the perfect holiday table, banana nut bread for every neighbor within a five-block radius, mandarin chinese lessons for the kids… well, you get my drift.

So why not give yourself a break this holiday season. If you stressed out over Thanksgiving, it’s not too late to change your ways before Christmas and New Years. Here are a few simple tips from from food writer, Celina Ottaway, for how to stay calm, grounded, and in the moment this holiday season.

1. Slow Down

Try not to rush; pause. Wiggle your toes. Stay in the day.

2. Soften Your Focus

While the details seem all-important in the moment (what gift wrap should I buy? Will my casserole be a hit?) try not to get caught up in them. Because while no one will remember the mismatched placemats, the wine your served, or the outfit you wore, they will remember how hard they laughed.

3. Roll With It

You won’t remember the placemats, either. Forget the little things.

4. Observe

Try to see the people and things around you as they are, not as you wish them to be.

5. Awaken Taste

Rather than eating just to quell hunger and fill your belly, experience food as a sacred and sensual pleasure. Whenever you put something in your mouth, make it a point to really taste it.

6. Breathe First

When stress is high, it’s easy to panic. We tend to take shallow breaths when we’re anxious, which only makes things worse. Try this: Inhale deeply through your nose and out through your nose and out through your mouth. Tell yourself you can get through this.

For more great tips from Celina Ottaway, check out her website at www.celinabean.com.