With Thanksgiving upon us, many of us face new stressors mixed in with the fun. Are you dealing with a long, stressful trip? Difficult relatives once you get there? Or a stressful holiday meal to cook? Or are you feeling lonely and wish you did have these issues to deal with? The following are some resources for you.

And, while you're celebrating, do think of the real reason for Thanksgiving--counting our blessings! Don't let the wonderful benefits of gratitude pass you by!

Elizabeth's Thanksgiving Stress Relief

• Reduce The Stress of Travel

• How To Reduce Holiday Stress

• How To Cut Down On Holiday Stress With A Simple Holiday Meal

• Managing The Seemingly Inevitable Holiday Season Stress

• Difficult Relatives? Here's How To Deal

• Entertaining Shortcuts

• How To Handle Loneliness During The Holidays

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This week will be a time of cleaning for me (just as the weekend was)! As we try to do every year, we're going through our belongings and paring down, donating what we don't use anymore, in preparation for the holidays. (This allows others to use what we are no longer using, and clears space for holiday decorations and gifts, and makes our place easier to clean before people come over.)

While cleaning does take time, it need not be a chore. I like to get the whole family involved by working together with my kids, and having a fun 'reward' that we can all enjoy when the work is done. Some people like to see how quickly they can rush through--quicker work means less time spent cleaning!--while others like to take a more leisurely pace, but make cleaning a more fun activity in itself--if it's not torturous work, why rush it? Whichever your approach, keeping a fun attitude, focusing on the positive results you're working toward, and trying to enjoy the moment as you clean, can all bring a less-stressed mood to the work at hand. And when you're done, you'll be left with a clean home--a sanctuary from stress!

Here are some resources you can use for low-stress cleaning in preparation for the holidays:

• How Cleaning Can Relieve Stress

• How Clutter Affects You

• Create A Sanctuary With An Organized Home

• Housekeeping Tips for Less Stress

• READERS, RESPOND: What Are Your Low-Stress Cleaning Strategies?

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If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may already know that I'm a big fan of chocolate. It's my favorite 'shortcut to serenity'; even my kids know that if Mommy is stressed, bringing me a few M&Ms usually means an immediate smile.

So I was really happy to see some promising new 'chocolate news' the other day: more evidence that chocolate cravings are perhaps not so bad after all! In fact, maybe I even crave chocolate when I'm stressed for a good reason--chocolate can help! Well, dark chocolate can help, anyway. If you're a chocolate fan like me, do yourself a favor and read more about the stress benefits of dark chocolate.

What are the 'vices' that become virtually irresistible when you're stressed? How do you think they may actually help you? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Additional Stress Resources From Elizabeth Scott:

• What Is Stress? Stress Relief Basics

• Shortcuts to Happiness

• 5 Minute Stress Relief Strategies

• Pleasures and Stress Relief

• Chocolate Meditation

• Free Stress Reduction Resources

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As you move through the stores and see all of the holiday decorations, no doubt you're used to the idea of 'getting ready for the holidays' by now. And, to many of us, it might seem just a tad ridiculous to prepare over a month ahead of time for holidays that are coming at the end of the year. Or it may seem like markers trying to make as much money as they can. And it might seem like overkill to get all of the preparations for all holidays for the rest of the year taken care of before Thanksgiving has even come and gone.

But there's a reason to prepare now--a reason that can benefit you: you can really reduce stress this way. Perhaps even better: you can save money! (And saving money reduces stress even more, right? Now we're talking!)

The reason you can relieve stress is that schedules get crazy-busy in December, at least for most people. Doing extra shopping, sending out cards, planning and attending parties, even participating in traditions with kids--these are all things that can be quite a bit of fun at other times in the year, but during the holiday season, they far too often feel like chores! (Think about it: during the rest of the year, most people who have a party to attend might announce this is a happy voice with a spring in their step; during the month of December, people usually announce, 'I have to go to three parties this week!' in more of an exhausted whiney moan. That's what the stress of being too busy can do to otherwise fun events.)

If you start working on whittling down your To Do List now, before things get too insanely busy, things might never reach that point. You can enjoy the parties, savor the cooking, drink in the holiday lights and perhaps even sing a few carols like a sane person. And create happy memories that you're not too exhausted to remember.

And, as for saving money, you probably thought I was talking about saving on sales, didn't you? Well, you're right, but I'm also talking about other things. If you start planning now, you can try cheap Christmas gift ideas (or holiday gift ideas) like coordinating with family and friends to spend less money, buy only for the children, exchange thoughtful homemade gifts or meaningful cards, or take other money-saving routes. (This year in particular, most people would be very grateful for being 'let off the hook' on holiday overspending themselves!) You can also save on postage if you're not paying the 'rush shipping' charges, or can perhaps save on shipping altogether if you can hand-deliver gifts to those you might be seeing for Thanksgiving.

To help you get started, I've put together a free holiday stress relief e course--it'll take you through holiday cards (there IS a simpler way!), holiday meals, holiday gift-buying, and more.

Also, I recently talked with radio host Toni Schutta about holiday stress and ways to relieve it. Listen To The Interview Here

What are your best tips for managing, minimizing, or altogether avoiding holiday stress? Leave them in the comments section.

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Because of some positive peer pressure from my friend Tammy, I recently started doing something I had previously thought I was way too busy to do: I've been crocheting! Before a week ago, the last thing I'd crocheted was a pair of scarves I'd made over ten years ago (and they were the only ones I'd ever made--this hasn't been a very active hobby of mine until now!), but now I've completed four scarves and am thinking of moving on to hats. And I'm having a lot of fun with the whole process.

You may have already guessed why I'm sharing this information with you, and if you guessed either of two answers, you'd be right:

1. Crocheting, knitting, and other activities that keep your hands busy and your brain somewhat focused while you create nice things--these are great stress relievers! I've been crocheting while I talk to people, while I watch television, or whenever I have an idle moment (waiting in lines, when I'm on hold, etc.) and it just feels good. That's because crocheting (and these other things) can lead to a near-meditative state, which can be great for stress levels, especially around this time of the year, when stress levels are rising. This also counts as a gratification (and wearing a chenille scarf I crocheted myself can be a pleasure), so there are even more benefits.

2. As you may realize, the holiday season is coming up, and handmade gifts are a thoughtful and inexpensive option. (See more ideas for cheap Christmas gifts and other holiday gift ideas for those on a budget.) My scarves have cost me about $2 to make, but they'll be cherished by my loved ones, and it feels good to be getting some of my holiday planning out of the way. (Sign up for my free holiday preparation e course to get started now, too, and have a less stressed holiday season.)

What new hobbies do you think you don't have time for--but want to try?

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With holiday stress and holiday season food approaching on the horizon, there might be an increase in emotional eating, overeating, and less-healthy diets. But fear not, my readers, you now have a secret weapon: mindful eating! This eating strategy helps you to really savor your food, and thus be less likely to mindlessly munch or overeat. It can even help you to say, 'No' to that second serving! Read more about that--plus some really great news about dark chocolate--below, and have an wonderful week!

Benefits and Practice of Mindful Eating
Mindful eating is a simple and effective tool for eating less and enjoying your food more. Mindful eating can help you to lose weight and manage stress at the same time. Learn more about the benefits and practice of mindful eating.

Strategies for Mindful Eating
Mindful eating exercises can aid in weight loss as well as stress relief. Try these proven mindful eating exercises for a few days, and see what kind of difference you notice with your relation with--and enjoyment of--food.

Is Dark Chocolate An Effective Stress Reliever?
"I've heard that dark chocolate is better for you than milk chocolate, and can even bring some benefits. Is this true? What does research say on dark chocolate, and how can it be used for stress relief and health?" Read More

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Now that Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, and the stores are all stocked with holiday decor, the holiday season is gaining momentum. For many people, this means adding extra cleaning and cooking, hosting and hostessing, and other activity to an already-packed schedule. There are also the decisions of who to see, who stays where, or whether home is the place to be, and balancing everyone's needs and feelings.

How much stress should you endure (from travel, cooking and dealing with difficult relatives) for the special moments Thanksgiving brings?

There are many decisions to be made, but keeping in mind the main focus of the holidays--love, family and gratitude, can help keep stress at bay. And here are a few other things to think about.

Elizabeth's Thanksgiving Stress Relief

• How To Reduce Holiday Stress

• How To Cut Down On Holiday Stress With A Simple Holiday Meal

• Managing The Seemingly Inevitable Holiday Season Stress

• Difficult Relatives? Here's How To Deal

• Entertaining Shortcuts

• How To Handle Loneliness During The Holidays

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When I first started hearing about the 2012 fears--predictions that the world will come to an end in 2012--I thought, 'Interesting.' After a friend told me about a documentary she saw detailing the fact that the ancient Mayan calendar ends in 2012, part of me thought, 'Wow, is there something to this?' Then the buzz got louder, and a terrifying movie trailer appeared, depicting the destruction of the world as we know it--a movie titled, of course, 2010--and I thought, 'Oh, no.'

My concern was less that the would would, in fact, end via an astroid hitting us, or an ancient Mayan curse, or a reversal in the spin of the Earth's rotation--all possibilities I'd heard kicked around--but that people would become so scared by these possibilities that we'd panic and create our own problems as a society. (The scary movie coming out can't be helping things.)

That's why I was happy to see this new article from About.com's own John Millis, Guide to Space and Astronomy. He examines each theory and provides a scientific explanation of each, and, happily, provides reassuring information on all fronts. Whether you've been concerned about 2012, or have even heard of these theories, I'd recommend that you read this article so you'll know the scoop if it ever comes up in conversation between now and the end of 2012.

Will The Earth End in 2012?

What's your take on the whole 2012 issue? Leave your thoughts in the 'comments' section below.

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Yesterday I went to Magic Mountain, a fun theme park, with my kids and some friends. As we walked (well, scampered, really) through the park and rode various rides, I noticed something that made me think of a blog I wrote just a few weeks ago about enjoying your job more. Unlike Disneyland, where everyone who works in the park generally stays 'in character' and focuses on the enjoyment of the guests and nothing else for their entire shift, there was a variety of commitment that most other park employees showed toward their jobs, mirroring what we find in most fields, especially customer service-oriented ones.

Some of the park employees were friendly enough, but obviously watching the clock. These people were pleasant, but not really smiling. They did their jobs perfunctorily, and were nice, but were obviously 'working'. Many people approach their jobs this way--they manage to get by, and do a decent job, but they look forward to breaks and days off, and would quit their jobs immediately if they didn't need the money. The can't imagine things any other way.

Contrast this with the guy who ran 'The Scrambler'--I didn't catch his name, so I'll refer to him as "Scrambler Guy", or "S.G." for short. S.G. acted like he was having as much fun running the ride as we were having on it! Where other people might turn on the ride and turn it off after several minutes, staring off into space and imagining being at home while the ride was running, S.G. was constantly keeping things interesting: asking us if we want to go faster (of course!), reminding us that there are churros to be had (yum!) and providing us a soundtrack with his "beat boxing" (which wasn't great, but I had to admire his effort). His energy was infectious, and I found myself happy to ride the ride three times in a row and hear his commentary throughout. I made the comment to him that he seemed to really enjoy his job, and he replied something like, "Ya gotta make it fun, right?"

Well, actually, not everyone does approach their job like S.G. does, but those who do--those who use their creativity and energy to go beyond their basic job description and create a better experience for themselves and those around them--tend to enjoy their jobs more, experience less job burnout, and generally enjoy life more.

The good news is that most of us have the ability to change our approach to our jobs, and make the job more fun. And with an extremely competitive job market out there, that's usually much easier than switching jobs, so it's a good route to pursue if possible. Think about it: if S.G. came to work at your company, how would he approach the job to make it more fun? How might you approach your job differently?

More Job Satisfaction Resources:

Make Your Job More Fun

What Makes A Job Great?

Respond: How Can You Improve Your Work Experience?

Find Satisfaction At Your Current Job

Poll: What Causes You The Most Stress?

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Many of the questions I hear about stress are asked more than once, by different people; many of the stressful situations that people face are shared by many. Below are a few answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question that you don't see addressed, you can post it in the comments, the forum or send me an email--your question could be included in the next round of FAQs.

What Coping Strategies Are Effective?
"I need help with coping strategies! I've worked very hard to build up security in my life, and now because of tough economic times, I find myself with few assets that are worth anything and a precarious job situation. These stresses are even taking a toll on my relationships! I feel like everything I've worked so hard for, everything I thought I'd always be able to count on, is falling apart. What coping strategies can help with this?" Read on for the answer, and an invitation to leave your own answers.

Can Simple Tips For Managing Stress Actually Work?
"I'm feeling completely overwhelmed, and am having difficulty managing stress! I keep reading about simple things like breathing exercises or meditation, but they can't change my life. How can these tips for managing stress help?" Read more for more on managing stress.

Read Stress FAQs

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