'Tis the season for family, festivities…and freak-outs! Lucky for you, a new study uncovered the tricks that'll keep your frazzled nerves in check.

__DO look for the silver lining.

__If you're feeling slammed (you have 38 gifts to buy!), focus on the flip side (you have so many loved ones). "Positively reframing something curbs frustrations," says Joachim Stoeber, Ph.D., of the University of Kent in the U.K., whose study examined perfectionists.

__DON'T try to change the things you can't.

__"You may not be able to make your carnivorous family serve vegetarian food," says Kathleen Hall, Ph.D., founder of both the Stress Institute and Mindful Living Network in Atlanta. So strategize. Why not BYO Tofurky?

__DO find the funny.

__"Research shows that when you're anxious, blood pressure spikes," says Hall. "After you laugh, it dips. Keep a hilarious picture of your dog or a funny video on your phone." Silly, yes—that's the point.

__DON'T have a bitch session.

__Many people think venting helps ease our worries, but Stoeber's study found it makes negative feelings worse. Hall explains: "Our emotions can produce chemicals in the body. When we focus on what stresses us, we manufacture chemicals that may make us feel anxious." So don't rehash; move on!

Are you a big ball o' stress during the holidays? What helps you chill out?

More ways to stay oh-so-calm:

5 Ways to Relieve Stress On-the-Fly

8 Good-For-You Habits to Try (You May Think They're Bad, But They're Not!)

*[3 Things That Can Make You Feel Really Calm


Photo: Mark Leibowitz