Just in time for the holidays. Here are a few tips that will help you and your family survive and enjoy this holiday season.

1. Walk off the stress and cravings

Family-induced stress can lead to cravings. Polishing off a pumpkin pie goes from tempting to irresistible after an argument with your opinionated cousin. Instead of heading for the refrigerator, go for a 15-minute walk.

2. Put your phone away

A visible phone undermines the quality of conversation. Don’t even think about putting it on the dinner table.

3. Avoid hot button topics 

Politics, money, religion, sex and health are dinner party “no-nos” for obvious reasons. These topics tend to bring out the worst in people, even typically unemotional ones. 

4. Sit at a round table

If you are concerned about conflict, you may want to consider a scientifically proven strategy for keeping the peace: use a round table. People seated at a round table – as opposed to a rectangular or square one – get along better and are less likely to bicker.

5. Beware of what you miss when you snap a pic

Snapping pictures influences what we remember. This phenomenon is called the ‘photo-taking impairment effect.’ If you are busy taking photos, you may miss the moment. 

6. Turkey tastes better when shared

Food and wine taste better when shared. We are social creatures and our wellbeing—both physical and mental—depends on our connections. Reach out to someone who may be on their own, don’t assume everyone has plans. Extend an invitation and be a bright spot in someone else’s life. 

7. Be kind

Studies show that kindness breeds kindness. It’s contagious, so pass it on. Research illustrates the numerous health benefits of being kind: increased happiness, closer relationships, greater life satisfaction, decreased stress, a stronger immune system including greater cardiovascular health, and decreased physical pain.

8. Gain time by giving it away

If the holiday season leaves you feeling pressed for time, try giving it away. Volunteering and doing things for others, rather than focusing on ourselves expands our sense of time. On that note, if you are interested in volunteering or making a charitable contribution this year, City-Meals-on-Wheels is a great organization that delivers nutritious meals to New York’s elder population.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” ~W.J. Cameron

A toast before champagne; blowing out candles and making a wish before tucking into birthday cake; ceremoniously carving a turkey or saying grace before digging into Thanksgiving dinner. Ever stop to think if there’s a reason for all this tradition steeped on tradition?

Research shows that we savor and appreciate food and drink more when a ritual precedes it. Delayed gratification, more enjoyment and a sense of deeper meaning contribute to the enhanced experience. By linking rituals to beneficial behaviors like healthy eating or exercise, those positive behaviors are more likely to be experienced as pleasurable and thus, more likely to be practiced.

My favorite traditions for the season: a long family walk after Thanksgiving dinner and delivering meals to the elderly with Citymeals-on-Wheels in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

A nurse who worked in palliative care listened to the final words of those on their deathbeds. She recorded their thoughts and put them in a book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. 

There is no mention of making more money, spending more time watching television, updating Facebook, or responding to email. All five regrets reflect a longing for more meaning and connection. Somehow the hustle and bustle of daily life got in the way of what truly mattered.

Avoid this happening to you by creating a weekly work/life check-in. Here is how Qualtric CEO Ryan Smith, master of the universe, created a weekly ritual:

Each week, I examine the categories of my life — father, husband, CEO, self — and identify the specific actions that help me feel successful and fulfilled in these capacities. This weekly ritual helps me feel like I’m doing everything in my power to address my needs and the needs of those around me. This is important because I can’t lose sight of the business agenda, and we’ve all seen or read about what it looks like when you lose sight of your family’s needs.

Think of it as a check engine light to ensure you are spending your time according to your priorities and living a life in concert with your values. Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.