{Note} This #clevercomforts post is #spon (sponsored) by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love.

We have all seen the studies and articles proving that the time between Thanksgiving and the New Year is the most stressful time for the average family. Yet, the question is, how to minimize that stress?

For many of us, we cannot eliminate it or avoid it, despite what psychologists and talk show hosts urge us to do. The best thing we can do is find comfort in the things that make us happy, invoke a sense of calm and enable us to turn off the ads, the deal emails, the invitations to the 20th holiday party, the annoying relatives, the stack of holiday cards that need stamps, and, of course, the long lines for everything. (Did I capture it all?)

While I am not an expert, I have some ideas on little comforts that can make the holiday season special.

1) Write an annual letter to your child. There is nothing to put things more in perspective when you look back over the past year in the life of your child. The holidays are a great time to mark your child’s growth with a special message. Seal the letter and store them in a keepsake box until they are old enough to read and enjoy them.

2) Take a walk with the family that is not at the mall. Walking is a great way to spend time with each other (and work off the egg nog!). Set aside time, even if it’s for 15 minutes, to get outside and stretch your legs with the family; bond over each other and not the latest toy for the holiday season.

4) Leave a legacy that lasts (and helps the environment). Each New Year’s Day, plant a tree in honor of your child(ren). Hold a special ceremony in which everyone in the family plays a part in planting that year’s tree, and take lots of pictures, both when the tree is planted and over the years as it grows.

5) Take part in a community service project as a family. Designate a day that will be devoted to serving others in your community or if you really are swamped this time of year, at least take a moment to donate a toy to a local organization. Sometimes, doing some good can make you feel good.

6) Bake some cookies. Don’t worry about making them taste edible or looking good. Just get the whole family involved, even the young ones. Assign them tasks like stirring or making shapes. Then have fun decorating the cookies with festive music in the background and some hot chocolate at your elbows.

6) Burn a holiday candle, even if it is at 9am. Whether Balsam Fir, or Cinnamon Sparkle, light a candle (safely & out of the way of children and pets) and enjoy the warm glow and fragrant scent. There is something about smelling peppermint or cinnamon this time a year that can put you in a great mood.

7) Buy new sheets. Sometimes it is only at the end of the day, when we climb into bed, that you can find some comfort and bliss. Get some high-thread count sheets (you can find great discounts at retailers like HomeGoods, TJMaxx or Marshalls) or a soft throw to snuggle up on the couch with. Better yet, upgrade your pillow to a Tempur-Pedic. (And spread the love with their current buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer!)

All in all, enjoy the season. Take deep breaths when you can and remember the little things, like family and friends, are what truly make the holiday season special.

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Disclosure: I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. {A rockin’ network I might add.}