The most wonderful time of the year?

For the majority of women in the United States, the season spanning Thanksgiving to New Year’s may be the most stressful time of the year.

Research conducted by the American Psychological Association revealed more women than men feel stressed during the holidays. Women also have a harder time relaxing and enjoying the festivities.

For women, holiday stress seems to be linked to greater domestic responsibilities. Despite advances in education, the workforce, politics and increased financial independence of the past few decades, studies show women still do about twice as much housework and child care as men, even when they hold jobs outside the home.

The hustle and bustle of the holidays leads to an increase in the domestic workload. According to one study, women are twice as likely to take on all tasks associated with holiday celebrations (e.g., planning, shopping, cooking, decorating and cleaning), and they feel particularly stressed from a lack of time to accomplish it all. Due to the stress and time constraints, women are also more likely to neglect their usual self-care practices (e.g., exercise) and fall into bad habits like comfort eating.

So what can you do to help make your holidays more happy than hectic? Here are some stress busting tips from psychologists:

• Manage your time. Make a list of what you must accomplish and check off items as you go. Chunk large, overwhelming tasks into smaller ones.

• Simplify. What can you do to make preparations easier for yourself? Must you use your finest china, or will disposable do just fine for your 20-plus guests?

• Delegate. You don’t have to do it all yourself. Relinquish some control and allow others to help.

• Focus on the big picture. Don’t get hung up on the details. Is it really the end of the world if the gravy is too salty, for example? If the answer is no, focus your energy elsewhere.

• Set boundaries. Learn how to say no. Don’t overcommit. Know your limits and stick to them.

• Manage your expectations. No holiday celebration will be perfect. Be patient with yourself and be honest about what you can accomplish.

• Be mindful. Pause, take some deep breaths, and pay attention to what is going on around you. This will help you focus on the present rather than worry about the future.

• Practice gratitude. Focus on whatever the holidays mean to you — faith, family, friends, fellowship.

• Connect. Reach out to your support system. Text your mom. Take an hour to meet up with a friend for coffee.

• Take care. Do something kind for yourself each day, no matter how brief. Savor your morning coffee. Take a walk. Soak in a bath. If you take good care of yourself, you will be in a better head space and more able to enjoy the magic of the season.

Dr. Amanda Sellers is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Allentown. Visit her website, www. DrAmandaSellers.com, to learn more.