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Lets face it: sometimes the Holidays are stressful. With all of the parties, shopping and other obligations to tackle in a very limited time, families must somehow manage to balance it all. Here are a few tips on how to survive the holidays and enjoy yourself in the process.

Get Organized: Have the kids make their wish lists and then organize them on a master shopping list. Create a gift spreadsheet if you feel you need extra organization. A column for each recipient, rows with product name, price and ordering info for each gift. For Holiday cards, invest the time in creating a mailing address label template on your computer that you can print out and just update each year.

Shop Online: Once you have your master shopping list, do as much shopping online as possible. No hassles at the store or in traffic equals more time enjoying the season at home with your family. Buying gifts can even be relaxing if you follow this lead and online shop with your well-organized list while watching The Daily Show from bed.

Don't Over Commit: Remember it’s okay to say no, even to a business opportunity. If taking on a new project means you will be uncomfortably above capacity during the holidays, everyone will lose. Schedule new projects for start-dates after the holidays instead of turning business away.

Share the Work: Make a new tradition and get the family in on the action! Have the kids stuff, stamp and label all the holiday card envelopes. They'll be happy to be part of the process. If this is your business crunch time, plan to be a guest rather than a host. Offer to host a different holiday at another time of the year.

Stock Up On Extra Gifts: There are always those last minute gifts you forget about—whether for holiday toy drives or unanticipated reciprocation—that fail to make it onto the most organized of lists. Buy a little extra (especially when you find a great sale). If they don’t get used this year, donate them or recycle them next year. There’s nothing worse than realizing you have to enter the fray on those final days after you’ve already taken that deep breath thinking you were all done!

Set Boundaries Between Work and Family Time: For those working from home, it is a blessing and a challenge. The temptation to work all the time is always there, especially during a busy season. Work while the kids are at school and activities, complete online tasks while the kids do homework and get in some evening work after the kids go to bed.

Don't Forget To Breathe: Maintaining a calm attitude while getting through a mountain of work, for both business and holiday prep, takes less time and energy. Do one task at a time, calmly, and then move on to the next. It will all get done as it always does. Forget non-essentials like making sure the house is spotless and the beds are made. Having a relaxed attitude even if there's no time to relax can make all the difference.

Source: Susan Miller, www.shopskm.com