Ahh. . . the holiday season. Peace, love, reflection, serenity and sharing quality time with loved ones. A time to reflect upon the past year, and anticipate the next, all while roasting chestnuts, Right? I am certain that most of us (including myself) are thinking NOT REALLY! Actually, the seasonal celebration can typically turn people into quite an Ebenezer Scrooge, and with everything involved in the hustle and bustle of this time of year, it is easy to see why. Planning ahead and focusing on a few tools can truly help ward off the holiday blues.

Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, or stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during the holidays; especially if you have guests in from out of town staying in your home. Conflicts are bound to arise with so many different personalities, needs and interests. On the flip side, the holidays can magnify feelings of loneliness if you're facing the holidays without loved ones.

Finances. This year will be especially hard for many due to the current recession. Overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase stress as you try to cover your normal monthly expenses while trying to appease that everyone on your gift list. You may find yourself in a financial spiral that leaves you with symptoms such as hopelessness, sadness and anxiety.

Physical demands. As if our normal lives are not stressful enough, the added strain of shopping, attending social gatherings and preparing extravagant meals can wipe you out. Exhaustion and fatigue also depletes your immune system making one more likely to get sick. This can truly create a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep are great aids for fatigue and mental pressure. Believe you me, people exercise WAY less during November and December all while indulging in significantly more food. What a perfect storm to add to the rest of the stressors: Holiday weight gain!

Okay, now I am really starting to sound like a Grinch, but fear not, there are some solid and easy tips to implement for you to keep the holiday spirit alive and squelch the seasonal slump.

Be Realistic. Don't try to make this year the perfect holiday. It is easy for some to get wrapped up in the cozy ideas of holiday traditions where everyone is happy, gay and everything runs perfectly smoothly. However, there is a good chance this may not occur and that is okay! Sometimes, the odd and goofy unexpected events make a holiday one to remember with good laughs.

Accept Change. As families grow or divide across the country from year to year, traditions will change as well. Accept change as the only true constant and go with the flow. If there are a couple of traditions that are extremely important to you, try to hold onto those, but also be prepared to try new ideas; you might find you like it!

Get involved in something that brings out the "true" Holiday Spirit. It is easy to lose sight of what this season truly means when you are being pulled like a wishbone! Getting involved in a volunteer activity, or simply just being more humanitarian for no self-fulfilling reason can give you peace and inner joy, and will bring true meaning to the holidays.

Learn to say "no" to extra obligations that might stress you out. The holidays are full of events, and if you are not careful to budget your time they will feel a lot more like obligations than entertaining. As the calendar fills to the brim, you may start feeling overbooked and overwhelmed. Mindfully assessing how you plan to spend your time, can better prioritize your obligations and make conscious choices about your time commitment. Then you can look forward to enjoying the events you plan to attend.

Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping decide how much you plan to spend and divide it up among your list. A good idea might be to give kids gifts from everyone and draw names amongst the adults. If you don't stick to your budget, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. After all, you can't buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Another good idea would be to sponsor a family that truly needs help.

Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for specific activities like shopping, baking, and visiting friends. That way you won't try to cram it all into a couple of days. Working smarter, not harder will reap benefits! Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. That'll help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten odds and ends. Oh, and of course, if you are traveling, expect delays, especially if you're flying.

Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays give you permission to ditch all will power. Some indulgence is OK, but overindulgence only adds to the stress of weight gain and poor nutrition. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard at the buffet. Continue to get plenty of sleep and, of course, keep exercising; it might be the only time you have alone!

Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for failure if they're unrealistic. Don't set the bar too high because it might fall and knock you down! Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines, and choose small short-term attainable goals. As you achieve these goals, continue to set more (kind of like the "baby steps" approach). Think clearly and honestly about your resolutions before you set them.

The Bottom Line. The key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is simply knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression. Accept that things aren't always going to go as planned and expect the unexpected. If you follow the hints mentioned above, you may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could!