In this episode of the Transformation Cafe podcast, host Robin Masiewicz and co-host Amy Frost talk about making the most out of the holiday season, and offer some ideas on how you can make them more meaningful.

Here are just a few of the great tips from the article 25 Ways to Fight Holiday Stress from Health.com.

Hike your mood with sunlight

It stimulates the production of feel-good serotonin and also helps relieve seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which impacts millions of Americans every year, says Judith Orloff, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles.

To ease SAD symptoms, spend time outdoors or near a window on sunny days, or ask your doc about phototherapy (a treatment using a box that emits full-spectrum light).

Walk away from worries

Walking has a tranquilizing effect on your brain, it decreases anxiety and improves your sleep.

Do less, enjoy more

Instead of going overboard trying to please others during the holidays and attending every event, take care of yourself and say “no” to at least once, maybe more.

Forget perfection

Stop obsessing over doing it all. The world is not going to end if the house is a little cluttered or dinner is on the table a few minutes late.

Eat breakfast before you tank up on coffee

Caffeine on an empty stomach can cause blood sugar levels to spike, which can cause attention problems and irritability.

Don’t overschedule

If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed by your holiday agenda, don’t over schedule your time and take on more than you can manage. Remember: It’s OK to slow down a bit.

Next week we’ll continue our discussion on stress-free holidays. Our guest will be Katie Fitzgerald, and she’ll help us learn how to eat food that loves us back!