Although Christmas is one of my favourite holidays I dreaded the start of the silly season because it always started around the middle of September to the beginning of October when we started putting up holiday decorations or the Christmas shop in our stores.

I would then work from that point in time until the end of January, after stocktake, without days off other than the legal public holidays when everything was closed.

I can recall the frenzied shoppers looking for that special gift, the last minute shoppers, the disappointed shoppers who were anxiety-stricken because they could not locate that special toy as they were all sold out, the late nighters, or the shoppers who needed a gift to be delivered by Christmas Day even though it was being sent across the country and it was two days before Christmas ... yes fond memories.

An article published in Psychology Today on how to cope with holiday stress, provides some tips on what people can do to stay and take control of their holiday season.

Organise your time by prioritising and grouping tasks together thereby minimising the stress of last minute scrambling.

Make a list of people you need to buy for, set a budget on the amount you will spend on each person, and start shopping early maybe in September.

Don’t set your expectations of the holiday too high. Lower your expectations by keeping them realistic and focusing on what's really important to you.

If you are a person who gets anxiety because of family, use this opportunity to practice your coping and communication skills.

Let it go for one day. Walk away, try not criticise and accept your family for who they are, likely imperfect and often times annoying, but family nonetheless.

If you are alone maybe do some volunteer work, possibly with the elderly or food kitchens. With technology these days you can still be present with family or friends via social media like Skype.

Don’t feel obligated to attend every party, do things in moderation. Drink less alcohol, eat fewer sweets, and don’t have seconds or thirds.

Remember just because it is the holiday season don’t go off your normal daily routines, like exercising, as you will find that at the end of it all you will feel exhausted.

A 2014 survey of over 2000 men and women by research mental health organisation Lantern in partnership with Stanford University, Penn State University and Washington University in St. Louis, found women will be 11 per cent more stressed than men during the holiday season.

The reason? Women still carry the bulk of domestic duties, including the tasks of buying thoughtful presents and entertaining holiday guests, arranging family outings and sending out holiday cards.

Therefore women tend to have much longer holiday-related To Do lists than the men, even though women may still be working similar hours to their partners.

We also know that women are simply better at multi-tasking than men. Can we imagine leaving the holiday preparation to men? Sorry guys.

At the end of the day it's all about perspective. We know the holidays can be a very difficult time. So if you find that you just can't cope with your anxiety or sadness then reach out and get the help you need as it’s okay to admit you are struggling.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your feelings, talk to a trusted friend or family member. Make contact with your GP or a mental health professional.

The holiday season is also a time we tend to make resolutions for the New Year, therefore if the holiday season exacerbates your symptoms of anxiety or depression that have been plaguing you, then the holiday period is the perfect time to address them as part of your resolutions.

Simply put, practise self-care by being nurturing and mindful of yourself.

For support, contact ReachOut.com, Relationships Australia 1300 364 277 or Lifeline 131 114.