The holiday season is blissfully upon us and celebrations are well under way.

But though its possibly the most anticipated holiday of the year (and I hate to burst your bubble here), it does not come without stresses. Especially in some of our Asian family get togethers where old rivalries and arguments can surface!

Fear not. It needn’t be so burdensome-here’s my take on how to alleviate any hiccups and get your most fulfilling holiday yet.

1. Plan Your Holidays Ahead of Time We all know the holidays mean major hustle and bustle with all the last-minute Marys getting their food, gifts and decorations- avoid this by shopping way in advance so you have a seamless shopping experience-minus the stampede.

Whether it’s planning for a family event, squeezing in some deadlines before your annual leave, or taking some time to meet some friends, manage your priorities effectively and declutter your schedule by making a list in order of importance.

2. Make the Most of Family Gatherings Use the holidays to celebrate and cherish the people around you. We all know it’s not always this simple but try and maintain harmony.

With a diverse mix of personalities rubbing shoulders under one roof, it can prove somewhat difficult to avoid conflict and disagreement.

We all carry an invisible suitcase of issues which means it’s hard to control what comes out sometimes-respecting each other’s space is key to relieving tough situations- hopefully, it’s nothing a good, hearty meal and some fun activities won’t fix.

Don’t forget to get the whole family involved in the cleaning and tidying at the end- it’s much too much for one person to bear so remain considerate and work merrily in a team.

3. Remember the Less Fortunate Christmas is a time for compassion, so it’s always useful to remember those less fortunate who feel they have next to nothing to celebrate.

While you may have a holiday surrounded by friends, family and celebration, many are homeless, abandoned while the elderly find themselves alone in homes.

Although Christmas is supposed to be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ for some, it’s anything but.

4. Stay Grateful for All You Have Always remember how blessed you are that you are able to have a holiday after all, whether its spent with family or friends.

It’s a great time to reflect on the past year, to appreciate all your glad tidings and to learn from everything you have overcome. Indeed, if you stay mindful of your blessings, you can breathe positivity into your holidays and eliminate any negative feelings.

It is also important to relinquish the temptation to self-compare.

While many plaster their holidays all over social media, it can induce feelings of inadequacy so aim to cultivate a positive attitude about the elements of happiness you do have.

Indeed, be gentle with others, but don’t forget yourself- sprinkle some words of kindness to give yourself and others, a calming holiday remedy. Most of all, just embrace it. You’ve worked hard all year and deserve to end this year on a good note, and to start the new year on an even better one.

With these few steps, you’ll be well on your way to a relatively stress-free holiday, tis the season to be jolly after all.

Happy Holidays.