With all of the enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the upcoming winter holidays, it’s easy to forget that not everyone approaches this time of year in high spirits. Even those that love the holidays can acknowledge the stress that often accompanies them.

The most common holiday stressors affect the majority of us, but there are ways to alleviate these worries. Below are the troubles some of us face this time of year and suggestions on how to handle them.

Stressor: Buying gifts for family and friends

Unless you’re one of those magicians that finishes Christmas shopping in July, you’ve probably experienced stress over finding gifts, especially as the hands on the clock spin faster and faster.

As if rushing in and out of crowded stores isn’t unpleasant enough, there are also plenty of people who just won’t tell you what they want. Instead, they let you run around two days before the holiday until you have a nervous breakdown and decide to just throw cash in an envelope. Shopping for others can be so frustrating.

Solution: I’d say start your shopping early, but that piece of advice is better saved for next year. As for right now, the best thing to do is make a detailed list of everyone you need to buy gifts for and what you're planning to get them. If they’re being difficult, go for something generic that nearly everyone enjoys.

Who doesn't love a new coffee mug or a scrumptious smelling candle? Once you've made your list, find a time to knock out all of your shopping at once. This method will save you time and prevent you from racing around the mall the morning before you need your gifts.

Stressor: Managing finances

If there’s anything the holidays tend to put a strain on, it’s the wallets of those celebrating them. Numerous expenses pop up during the winter season, from purchasing gifts to hosting get-togethers.

Eggnog and wine aren't cheap! If you're already living paycheck to paycheck, the holidays can throw a sizable wrench into your carefully constructed budget.

Solution: Creating a written plan in preparation for holiday expenses is useful, especially if you do it alongside your gift buying list. This will allow you to budget yourself, even in lieu of extra expenses. Keeping an eye out for sales and shopping accordingly are life-saving moves. You'd be surprised at how much money you can save just from purchasing on a certain day.

Stressor: Spending more time with relatives

This definitely isn’t applicable to everyone because many of us look forward to the holidays specifically for the increased amount of time spent with loved ones. But anyone with toxic family members is likely to regard the holidays with a sense of dread.

Being cooped up with people likely to instigate arguments or initiate uncomfortable conversations is enough to make anyone denounce the season.

Solution: Set boundaries for yourself before heading to family gatherings. If there are topics, like politics, that normally spark arguments, make the conscious decision to avoid those and stick to that decision.

If taboo subjects do come up, temporarily remove yourself from the situation. If you’re dealing with a more generalized issue, like relatives who judge every move you make, try to limit the amount of time you spend at gatherings and mentally prepare yourself beforehand.

Stressor: An increased workload

Whether you’re a student or employed full-time, it probably hasn’t escaped your notice that this season is one of the busiest times of the year. For people in school, finals and term papers begin to stack up.

For those working, there seems to be an influx of phone calls, paperwork and customers streaming in and out of businesses. These responsibilities, on top of holiday preparations, are enough to burn anyone out. How can you enjoy the season when it's beating you over the head with things to do?

Solution: The first step is to organize your schedule using either a planner or a calendar. Make a list of everything you need to do, put these tasks in order of priority and give yourself enough time to tackle them. Doing this in advance will lessen the feeling that everything is piling up at once.

After you make your list, try to find a few places to schedule in self-care. It isn’t easy setting aside time for yourself, but if you can manage it you’re less likely to feel worn out when everything is done.

Stressor: Holiday parties and social events

Raise your hand if you have social anxiety or frequently feel socially awkward. This applies to you, my fellow turtles. While holiday parties both in and out of the workplace can be a great way to meet new people, they can also be a source of anxiety to those of us overwhelmed by unfamiliar faces and tedious small talk.

Solution: Grab the largest glass of wine you can find and – just kidding. That’s a recipe for disaster, especially in a professional setting. What you can and should do is buddy up. It’s easier to network and introduce yourself to new people if you have the support of someone you’re comfortable with. If that person happens to be extroverted, that's even better. You can leave most of the talking to them.

Stressor: Being stuck in crowds wherever you go

This is another issue for my introverts out there. If crowds make you claustrophobic and uneasy, you might find yourself making excuses to stay inside until the holidays are over and done with.

Unfortunately, you still need to run errands, go food shopping and buy gifts. It's almost impossible to avoid the lines of people and congested parking lots that plague every public place from November through January.

Solution: If crowds bother you, you're better off taking care of business during "off hours." Going food shopping or hitting the mall on a weeknight can make a huge difference. There's no way to avoid holiday crowds entirely, but a weekday excursion sure beats going anywhere on a Saturday or a Sunday.

Stressor: Putting on extra pounds after you've worked all year to lose them

Again, this is not a source of distress for everyone. Plenty of people can stuff their faces without feeling any guilt, and I applaud them and their sorcery.

However, for anyone on a diet the holidays can feel like an absolute disaster. If your co-workers aren't bringing in leftovers and desserts then some distant relative is inviting you over for a four-course meal. It seems like all anyone wants to do this time of year is eat and drink.

Solution: If you know that you're going to be eating unhealthy food for a certain meal, try to plan healthier options around that. If you're having a big dinner, eating a smaller breakfast or lunch can certainly help. There's also the possibility of increasing physical activity by getting more exercise in until people stop pelting delicious food at you.

Most importantly, go easy on yourself. Don't berate yourself for taking in a few more calories this time of year. Everyone does it, and you can always make a plan to shed the weight after the new year begins. That's what resolutions are for, right?