Put a halt to holiday stress

Here we go again. All of a sudden, like an enormous stack of papers covering your desk on a Monday morning, the holiday season has arrived. Ugh! But hey, look at the bright side: You made it through Thanksgiving and you didn't eat too much. Okay, maybe you did. And you weren't one of those people who got up at 3 a.m. to shop on Black Friday. Okay, maybe you were. Either way, now is the time when shopping, eating, and stress really pick up. Here are seven tips to get you through the holidays in one piece.

Whether you're getting ready to celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, or Kwanzaa, these tips will help you save time, money, and even the hair you want to pull out when the person in front of you at the grocery store clearly has more than 10 items in his or her plastic basket! Phew. Okay, breathe. Relax. Here we go:

Shop in spurts. Lots of people like to pick a day, get up at the crack of dawn, and plow through their holiday shopping in one, crazy 12-hour stretch. Why put yourself through it? Shop a little at a time, chip away here and there, and you'll be done in no time.

Love to log on. A decade ago, shopping online was a bizarre idea meant for only the highest of high-tech gurus. Now, your cat can do it. If you're sick of the long lines and your car is sick of finishing last in the parking space game, get a comfortable chair, a nice cup of tea, and shop away.

Less is more. Are you having a tough time deciding which new gaming system to get your kid? Or which cruise package to get your parents for helping you through nursing school? Here's a thought: Don't get any of it. Get simple, thoughtful gifts. Spend more time together during the holidays. You (and your wallet) will be happier come January.

Take some vacation. We know, we know, there's too much going on at the end of the year to take some time off. You've got new projects to finish, new people to train, and new ideas to implement. Relax. Take a break. Give yourself a long weekend or take a random Wednesday afternoon off.

Treat No. 1. Guess who that is? You've been running around all year, catering to family, friends, and yes, patients. When do you get a break? Now. Go buy those shoes you've been looking at for two months. Go to a spa for a few hours.

Early resolutions. Instead of waiting until January 1 to make your New Year's Resolution, do it now. Do you want to drop 10 pounds? Do you finally want to kick that nicotine habit? Do you want to send at least one thank-you note each week to someone in your life? Start now! You'll feel much better about yourself through the holidays and you'll laugh at those people who are racking their brains for a resolution next year.

Smile more. It sounds simple, doesn't it? But have you ever consciously tried to do it? If you're standing in a check-out line that starts and ends in two different states, smile. If your roast is drier than the Sahara Desert in the middle of summer, smile. If your shovel snaps like a twig in the middle of an ice storm, smile. It won't make your problems go away, but it will make everything seem a lot better. Then, (gasp) maybe you can actually enjoy the holidays.

How do you get through the craziness of the holidays? Share your thoughts with your peers.