As the holiday season approaches, we greet it with both joy and trepidation.

In spirit, this is a special time to be celebrated with friends and family.

In reality, this can also be a stressful time demanding even more from our busy lives for preparative tasks and obligations. Staying balanced during this time will help you to better focus on your professional requirements, while maintaining your energy and productivity.

How can we not only “get through” the next holidays, but actually enjoy them? Here are some strategies:

Look at the big picture and map out the weeks ahead. This will take a little time but the payback will be worth it. If planning is not your natural inclination, it is even more important that you practice it at this time. While you might self-justify that you are “too busy” to take the time to plan, your return on investment in time, energy and effectiveness will be well worth it.

First, identify your work projects and requirements that are on the horizon. Evaluate and prioritize them. Then, look at your personal, family and community obligations, and evaluate and prioritize them as well.

Decide what can be done less, later, or not at all. When everything has built up to A-1 priority, it defeats the purpose of prioritizing in the first place. Re-prioritize your work and home lists, and be very clear about what is most important.

Pay particular attention to where there are obligations that you feel you must do. If they do not give you genuine satisfaction, let them go. For instance, if you feel overwhelmed with hosting the family gathering, you can ask someone else to host this year.

Alternatively, find a way to let something else go so that you can host the event without feeling exhausted or resentful.

Limit your holiday party attendance. Ask yourself what are the benefits or consequences of attending or not. If you absolutely cannot avoid attending, then make a brief showing and excuse yourself early.

If you have a goal of expanding your business network, you may want to attend more business and professional functions this year. On the other hand, if you are feeling “over-exposed” to the professional side of your life and need a break from talking business, then you might want to spend more time with non-work related people.

Loosen up on your perfectionism. Much of the stress we carry during the holidays is self-imposed, and we are just not conscious of it. Unless baking is therapeutic or your passion, let a friend, relative or the local bakery provide the cookies this year.

Delegate more to others (at work and at home) and get rid of your old internal message that “if you want something done right you should do it yourself.”

Take some personal or vacation time before the holidays. Taking a day or two off or half days before the holidays, for planning and preparation can significantly reduce your stress and allow you to be more focused and productive on the days that you are at work.

Remember, too, to eat healthy and get adequate rest and exercise. This is the time you really need to practice the concept of self-care to protect your overall health and wellness