Since we are in the midst of the holiday season, it’s time for presents, eggnog, family, sugar cookies, and… holiday stress. It’s about time we acknowledge that the holiday season isn’t all laughter and peppermint hot chocolate. For example, we all have an Aunt Sally or Uncle Joe who just loves to bring up the most awkward conversations every year. Then there’s the problem of trying to organize gifts for family and friends along with keeping the rest of your life afloat, which is no easy feat. With that being said, here’s a few tips on how to get through the holidays, brought to you by myself and Mayo Clinic. To start off, Mayo Clinic says that it is very important to set aside differences. This can look like choosing not to argue with Aunt Sally and Uncle Joe, or it can look like having a civilized conversation with them about anything but politics. I believe that this is largely effective in keeping tempers low, and it will certainly help you enjoy Christmas dinner more. Additionally, I have found that it helps to plan things out. Mayo Clinic agrees with me on this. If you were to take an hour at the start of December and figure out what needs to be done and then decide when to do it, this will relieve a significant amount of holiday stress. Don’t ever wait until that last minute to start your shopping. Lastly, it is completely OK to say no. The last thing you want to do during the holidays is overextend yourself. You still want to be in one piece by the time New Years rolls around. Lastly, the holidays are meant to be fun! I know that it’s not always easy for teens with their finals or adults with their holiday shopping, but if everyone took a couple of moments in the midst of their mad dash to relax and remember the real spirit of the holidays, I guarantee your holiday experience will be much better.