This is the second in our three-part series on staying healthy during the holiday season.

The holiday season is upon us, and it can be a stressful time. The holidays often bring extra social obligations, financial pressure and a breakdown of healthy living habits. The holiday season can also leave you feeling lonely or depressed.

However, you and your family can adopt some new traditions that may help ease the season's stress and make your holidays healthy and happy.

It's easy to become overwrought this time of year, especially if you believe something is lacking in your holiday celebration. Here are some ways to create new holiday traditions that will help level your emotions:

• Ask yourself if you really enjoy all the rituals. Perhaps they have merely become habits. Try choosing less elaborate traditions of holidays past.

• Don't be afraid to scale down gift giving. You'll probably get a lot of support.

• If your yearly party is too much to handle, put it off until after the holidays. This will give you more time to prepare. It will also help ease post-holiday letdown by giving you something fun to look forward to.

• If you can’t be with your family, get out around people. Plan to be with friends or volunteer to help others who also may be separated from their families.

Source: The StayWell Company, LLC