The holidays are a great time of year for spending time with family and friends, but behind the joy and happiness of the season is a lot of stress. So how do we get through the holidays without stressing out? Try these tips from Dr. Silverman.

The first step to managing stress, is to understand where it comes from. The primary causes of stress during the holidays can be summed up in three things: relationships, money and time.

Fortunately, once you are aware of this, you're one step closer to managing it and these specific tactics will help you out:

Stay Focused. Put all of your attention into one thing at a time and tackle them one by one. You'll feel a better sense of accomplishment and it adds a good positive feeling to see task getting accomplished. Plus, you're less likely to get sidetracked.

Plan a budget. Even of you skip it the rest of the year, make the effort for the eight to ten weeks of holiday madness. It's easy to overspend and it can take months to pay off credit-card debt (which adds to post-holiday stress as well). Knowing your boundaries will help you feel more in control and less stressed. To make it easy for budgeting gifts, decide how much to spend on each person and put some cash in an envelope with the person’s name on it. Spend only what's in the envelope.

Say no. Despite the pressure or guilt, saying no is one of the best habits for the holidays. If you have to say yes, consider cutting something else out of your schedule in exchange – and remember to balance it against your priorities. Also, don't over-commit. It's way too easy to get caught up in all the parties and activities and before too long, you're rushing from one party to the next pulling your hair out on the way. Instead, let each person in your family choose a couple of activities and stick to those.

Diet and Exercise. The holidays are notorious for fats, sweets, carbs and alcohol, all if which can drain your energy and make you feel even more stressed. Instead of trying to avoid these types of foods, fill up on healthy snacks before you head out to your holiday party so you are less likely to over eat. When you're out and about holiday shopping, have smaller, healthier meals more frequently to keep your energy up. Just as important, be sure to take time for a quick workout – even if for only 15 or 20 minutes a day –this will help you decompress, burn calories and feel better overall, even if it's just a walk around the block. For major stress release, try Yoga.

Listen to your emotions. Holidays can sometimes bring out emotions you don't have th rest of the year, especially if you are spending it alone. Don’t be afraid to embrace the way you feel and don't feel like you have to pretend you're happy. When you find yourself having an emotional moment, take it for what it is and then take a break to do something you enjoy. Also, remember that things never go exactly as we plan, so make sure your expectations are real and allow yourself to accept things might go wrong, and don't sweat the small stuff.

Know when to get help. Depression can sneak up on us this time of year, so pay attention for the symptoms and get help if you think you are depressed. If you have feelings of sadness that last more than a few weeks, have a drastic change in your eating habits, or just feel unable or unwilling to do what you would normally do then it's probably more than stress. If you notice these symptoms, talk with your doctor or mental-health professional for help in identifying the problem and finding a treatment option.

The holidays have plenty of demands without stress, so put these stress-busting tips to work for you and keep your positive holiday spirit. Your holiday may not be completely perfect, but it can be truly unforgettable.