Depending on where you live, winter has recently decided to come home to roost; by come home, we mean run you over with a steam roller. The unseasonably warm weather finally decided to end this week and deliver the cold air and biting winds that we associate with fall and the stress and madness of holiday culture.

The holidays are stressful. This in itself isn’t news; what helps is how you handle the holidays. Many people find the rush of the holidays to be too much, and the attitudes of those rushing to be a bit too negative. Here is some advice for the weary in dealing with holiday woes.

First off, relax. You’ve got plenty of time, so make the most of it. Don’t let everything go until the last minute. If it helps, set one weekend aside to shop for each family member in order to keep things straight.

Secondly, make sure you stay comfortable. Your level of stress will only increase the more uncomfortable you are. Invest in some quality footwear. Nothing says comfort like a soft, fuzzy boot, and if wearing a nice brown pair of Gabriella Rocha StudioBroadway boots isn’t enough to get your stress down, combine them with some comfort coffee and cookies. Walking the malls can be very draining, after all.

Third, remember that you won’t be able to do everything, so stop stressing about all that has to be done and focus on the big stuff first. In the end, the holidays will happen whether you’re ready or not, so do what you need, and then do what you want.

Fourth, try to set aside a bit of “you” time each day. Even if it’s just five minutes, do something completely selfish for yourself. Get that extra large coffee, munch on that chocolate cookie or read that book you’ve been meaning to. Taking a minute to decompress can save you hours of stress-related headaches later on.

The holidays are stressful, but they don’t have to be unbeatable. If you plan ahead and make an effort to stay comfortable, most of your stress will be manageable. Remember to take your time and take time for yourself this holiday season.