My biggest source of holiday stress once stemmed from hours spent cooking in the kitchen. So, a few years ago, I decided to reclaim my stress-free holidays -- and it's made all the difference.

Here's how I brought the joy back:My mom was a hostess extraordinaire with homemade dinner rolls and cranberry sauce to die for. While I tried to follow in her footsteps, I realized that what mattered most to me as a child was time with her. So I gave myself permission to skip the kitchen marathon and just be present. After all, years from now, no one will likely remember if you swapped homemade rolls for a simpler side dish -- but they will remember the laughter you shared.For me, the holidays are about connection, not hours in the kitchen. So, I've made food a side dish instead of a centerpiece. This year, I'm keeping it simple with a quick 30-minute Christmas dinner of salmon with wild rice and green beans.