You made it through Thanksgiving, but it’s not over yet! The holiday season is still in full swing and there’s still plenty of shopping, cooking and family time left in the year, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some tips to save you from snatching your hair out during the holiday hustle and bustle:

Travel – This is one of my biggest crazy makers (as Hubs and I get ready to pack up the kids for a 10 hour ride down south). The number one way I reduce the stress is to pack for the kiddos first. My kids are 7 and 4, so I know I have to keep them entertained on the road. In addition to packing what we’ll need during the trip (clothes, shoes, etc.) I make sure to pack a special bag for the car that holds all the movies, video games, books and snacks they’ll need to keep busy. No matter how you’re traveling, the best way to avoid stress (and not forget anything) is to make lists. List out everything you’ll need for each day of your trip, and don’t forget travel days.

Shopping – One of the most stressful parts of the holiday season. Fighting through traffic just to stand in long lines for hours can do a number on anyone’s sanity. To avoid the crazy, do the bulk of your gift buying online. Check out this post to find out how to shop online and save big.

Cooking – You’ve scoured Pinterest for the most yummy looking holiday recipes… Now what? Preparing a huge meal for friends and relatives can stress you out big time. The number one way to side step that stress is to prepare ahead of time. You can do things like wash greens, make cranberry sauce, brine turkey and chop veggies in the days leading up to your big dinner. Break your meal down and prepare what you can ahead of time, so that you can spend more time with your loved ones on the big day.

And since we’re talking about relatives – The thought of keeping loved ones entertained can be a scary one, but not if you plan ahead. Keep the family busy by putting out a deck of cards, board games or movies so that they can entertain themselves. Need some extra hands? Assign family members tasks to take some of the weight off your shoulders (teens make great wranglers for smaller kids). If the fam will be in town for longer than a day or two, help them plan their own fun by letting them know what local events and activities they can check out.

Last but not least…Enjoy yourself! – Don’t let all the shopping, cooking and entertaining make you forget what the holidays are all about. Take time to honor the reason for the season and be thankful for this time you get to spend with your loved ones.

What say you BMWK? How do you plan to avoid stress through the rest of the holiday season?