1. Stressor:
LONG LINES
At department stores, take all your purchases to a less crowded register near the back or on an upper floor, says Stephanie Wilson, author of Getting Organized. But rest assured: You will be stuck in lines. Rather than fume at check-fumblersand people with 20 items in the 12-items-or-fewer lane, breathe deeply and compose a holiday e-mail in your mind. “Keep your spirits up by using the time in line to reflect on a happy life experience,” says Lisa Lewis, staff psychologist at Cornerstone Care in Greensboro, Pennsylvania. “Divert your mind from negatives while savoring the positives.”

2. Stressor:
CRABBY CLERKS
If anything takes the ho-ho-ho out of the holidays, it’s overworked, grumpy clerks. Immunize yourself. “I used to let them turn me into them, because mean-spiritedness can be contagious,” says Michael McKee, clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “But I realized, if you do that, you’ve handed control of your life to them.” Try being sympathetic. Tell them you understand how difficult their job is, and thank them for doing it.

3. Stressor:
OTHER PEOPLE’S KIDS
“Kids are like puppies. They’re nosy, adventurous, and want to check out strange surroundings. And when bored, they can be destructive,” says Mary Jo Rulnick, author of The Frantic Woman’s Guide to Feeding Family and Friends. Give them a room to play in with movies, toys, an art box filled with construction paper, scissors, and decals that they can plaster on a designated window.

4. Stressor:
MONEY
The gift list is always bigger than the checkbook balance. Vow to spend within your means this year and not add to credit card debt. Concentrate on thoughtful giving, not lavish spending. Make a note when someone mentions a novel she’d like to read or an old movie he’s never seen. And agree to a gift moratorium with your spouse, immediate family, or friends. Exchange homemade cookies or candies instead.

5. Stressor:
COOKING FOR COMPANY
Buy prepared foods and dress them up before company arrives. Add cream cheese and a teaspoon of vanilla to a sugar cookie mix; it will taste like made-from-scratch, says Sandra Lee, author of Semi-Homemade 20-Minute Meals. Make five batches and freeze separately. For that Norman Rockwell moment, defrost and roll out the dough when guests arrive. Microwave mashed potatoes and add lots of butter and sour cream. Convince Aunt Gertrude your cranberry sauce is from scratch by combining canned and whole cranberries; heat in a saucepan; add fresh mint, pecans, and a teaspoon of maple syrup. “It tastes fabulous,” says Lee.