Planning and preparation helps me stay stress free during the holidays. Whether it's planning a dinner party, shopping or planning a good workout, I have a calendar in the kitchen to keep everything on track with family activities. Doing a little bit everyday makes things easier and the family less stressed out.

To survive the holidays I make sure that I start early....I do all my shopping in October and November. Then I bake cookies, make fudge in early December and freeze them. I cannot stand rushing and waiting until the last minute. I think that being done early is the best way to actually ENJOY the holiday season. Keep up with doing a little bit of exercise every day and go to sleep early and then you can get through it all unscathed.

Thanksgiving and Christmas come quickly with little down time in between. I make sure to stay stress free by remembering the season. I remember my family and the fact that it is not about the perfect meal or the best gift, but about spending moments with them and making memories. As for traffic and shopping during the holiday season. I simply remember to take deep breaths and I say to myself, they are all out here for the same reason and that is to make the holiday special for the ones they love.

I try to take advantage of the holiday season by spending as much time as possible with family.

My survival tips include, peace of mind and an abundance of wine. I used to stress myself out over the holidays, until I realized that I could play it cool, calm down and enjoy the holidays with my family stress free. I make a special holiday cocktail for all to enjoy.. Well the adults that is.

My tips- I eat everything in a portion. Especially the desserts. If I don't eat it would not want t won't enjoy the holidays. This time of the year is special, every getting together. Eating and laughing.

My survival tip is have others help. If you do everything yourself, you'll get tired and might not enjoy the day.

My advice that I live by is....just say no! You don't have to go to all the things. Just enjoy your immediate family at home sometimes. It's less stressful.

My holiday survival tips are to go and eat on Thanksgiving and Christmas, a pumpkin pie, plenty of nice warm socks and blanket, a stock up on eggnog, coffee, and tea.

I take long walks. It's good for clearing the mind and healthy for the body. You can meditate and walk while enjoying the scenery at the same time.

If you are hosting a big gathering, make some food items ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze them. Then you just have to make a couple of items the day of the big meal.

I try (although I don't always succeed) to have Christmas gift shopping done by the end of November. That gives me December to focus on fun like decorating, baking, wrapping, holiday movies and books. I also don't buy physical gifts for extended family nieces/nephews once they reach junior high/13th birthday (varies according to school district). It is too hard and too expensive to get gifts for kids that age, especially when they are not your own. I do gift cards or contribution to college fund.

Go to the 99cent only store and stock up on frozen pie shells. 2 for 99 cents can't be beat! Then when the house is cold, bake a pumpkin pie!

My Holiday Survival tip is let everyone that is coming bring part of the meal or snacks. Relieves a lot of stress in preparing the meal and many more varieties of food to choose from.

I try to have the majority of shopping done before Thanksgiving.