Although the holidays can be a time of joy in our lives, they can also present us with a great deal of stress. Managing your schedule, shopping for gifts, braving the crowds, and fitting in those special seasonal commitments can prevent us from enjoying this time of year as much as we should. In order to avoid any additional holiday headaches, approach this holiday season with a positive attitude and an organized schedule. Below are some S&P tips to help you handle the holidays!

1. Don't over commit

It's tempting to say "yes" to every cocktail hour, event, family gathering and party that you get invited to, but the beauty of the situation is that you have the power to decide whether or not you want to (or can) attend. After all, the only one who can say "no," is you! Don't feel guilty turning down an invitation to a holiday party if it's going to stress you out, make your life more difficult, or take time away from other activities you'd rather be doing instead.

 2. Prioritize

One of the best ways to decide whether or not you should be attending an event is to take the opportunity to prioritize. Spend an afternoon with a cappuccino and your schedule in order to think about what's realistic for you. Decide which holiday invitations are the most important to you. For example, you probably won't want to miss the company holiday party or special family tradition that only happens once a year. Remember your time is precious, and although your neighbor's egg-nog party may sound fun, take a moment to put everything in perspective before you head over in your Christmas sweater!

3. Take some time for you

Let's be honest. Although the holiday season is tons of fun, throw in a busy work schedule, finals (if you're a student), shopping for gifts, traveling for family visits, and fitting in everything else on your plate, and the holidays can easily become overwhelming. Don't forget to take some time for yourself to relax, de-stress, and actually enjoy this time of year before it passes you by! How you choose to relax is a very personal choice, but be sure you block out a few hours (or maybe even a whole day?) to curl up with a blanket and a book, have a holiday movie marathon, treat yourself to a massage, or get a blow dry from your favorite salon.

4. Take it day by day

Before anything gets too overwhelming, break down your to-do list. Instead of rushing out to shop in one last minute swoop, break it up into two or three smaller trips a few weeks before you'll need to exchange them. If preparing an entree or meal for a holiday party is stressing you out, break up the process by shopping one day, preparing the ingredients the next, and actually cooking the meal on the day of the event.

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