How could this time of year possibly be stressful? Easy! We fight throngs of people every time we shop, we run our credit card balances up to their limits, and we feel the need to decorate every inch of our homes in order to get in the "Christmas spirit." I'm stressed out just thinking about it.

Let's take a deep breath and see what we can learn on how to deal with holiday stress. Sympatico's HealthyWay Magazine offers an excellent article on dealing with this stressful time of year. Test your stress index by taking an online test, learn how to cope with Christmas pressures, and discover how holiday stress can affect your children's behavior (not to mention your husband's).

Many of us struggle with our diet every day of the year, and during the holiday season, it's even worse. We're tempted with succulent goodies like rum cake and Martha Washington candy, and it's almost impossible to say 'no.' Visit the Holiday Survival Guide for healthy ideas on how to stay fit during this holiday season and learn what to do if you overdo it. Under Women's Wire, click on "Chill Out" to learn some stress reducing tips such as how to avoid getting swamped.

During the holiday season, many people experience the "holiday blues." Mayo Clinic's Holiday Blues website offers an outstanding article on what causes holiday blues and how to cope.

If your children are literally bouncing off the walls, take a moment to check out Redbook's Six Ways to Channel That Manic Holiday Energy. Click on Kids and Holiday Stress for tips on maintaining "peace on earth" in your family.

Redbook also features beauty tips that are Holiday Stress Beaters, such as banishing winter pallor and losing that tired look. Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page to go to the next beauty tip.

Visit Holiday Inspiration and Ideas for Mom for a wonderful list of links in topics that are geared toward making this holiday season as stressfree as possible. Links include "How to Handle Holiday Stress if You are a Single Parent" and "Facing Grief During the Holidays."

Finally, Kaplan's Winter Wonderland: Antidote to Holiday Stress, is a fun and carefree site guaranteed to take your mind off the stressful holiday season. Play a Snowflake Attack Game, or enter Fruitcake Follies by telling what *you* would do with a fruitcake. You'll find tips on decorating your home, recipes, gift ideas, and how to deal with post-holiday stress.

Robin Nobles is a freelance writer who can be reached at robinnobles@robinsnest.com.

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