By Julie Elaine Brown, M. A.

Make the most out of this holiday season. While the holidays may be a stressful time of year in many ways, it is also a joyous time of year, where we can re-discover our youth, pass along cheer to others, and take time to appreciate the ones we love.

Here are some tips for enjoying the holidays to the fullest.

Tip #1: Pretend You’re a Kid.

Kids always have a great time during the holidays. What’s not to love? Presents, good food, relatives, parties, fun! Instead of stressing about all the things you have to do as an adult during the holidays, take some time to be a kid.

That could include getting your picture taken with Santa, building a snowman, going sledding, or just acting goofy for a change. You may be surprised at how much your mood lightens up just by acting like a kid!

Tip #2: Treat Yourself.

One of the best ways to get through the holidays that I’ve found is to give myself little treats. After a day of shopping for friends and family, I might treat myself to a hot chocolate. What a decadent little thing a cup of chocolate can be, and I tell myself that I burned off the calories before drinking it…with all the shopping and walking around!

Little things like this can really help you to slow down during this often-hectic season. I know people who buy little gifts for themselves a year before, wrap them, and hide them with their holiday decorations. It can be a nice surprise to discover your gift the following year (and more than one person I know has completely forgotten what the gift is!)

Tip #3: Romance Yourself.

Don’t worry, this tip is PG-13. This season, do something you think of as utterly romantic, just for you. Sure, you can invite others, but the idea here is to do something that romances YOU.

It could be taking a carriage ride with horses through the snow, listening to soothing music, walking around a museum, or cooking a candlelit dinner. The holidays are so much nicer with love in the air, and the first person who needs love is the person you see in the mirror.

Doesn’t that person deserve to read a book or dress up “just because?"” This season, be sure to give yourself a little romance.

Tip #4: Do Something Someone Else Wants to Do.

Last year my Mother came to visit me for Christmas, and she really wanted one of those drawings of the two of us by a street artist. I didn’t want to do it, so we didn’t do it. You know what? It’s a year later and I’ve regretted it nearly every day. So this year, we’re going to do it. It’ll be fun and different, and even if I think it is silly, I bet in a few years I’ll really appreciate something like that. And I know Mom will. The feeling I get from the anticipation of her reaction warms my heart, and I’m looking forward to it.

Making someone happy really is the essence of the season. What a wonderful thing to be able to bring that kind of happiness!

Tip #5: Appreciate the Beauty of The Season.

The holiday season goes by relatively quickly—it’s only a few months, after all. Look at these months as a fleeting treasure, something to make the most of while here. If we value these moments as a special, yet limited time, it can help us appreciate the joy of the season.

One season when I felt particularly stressed, I remember looking up at a beautiful red doorway decorated with wreaths and holly. I continued walking and noticed that nearly every house on the street had some sort of decoration, whether it was a Menorah in the window, reindeer on the rooftop, or lights strung on the bushes outside. Taking the time to notice this put me in festive mood.

It really is a beautiful time of year if we just focus on the things that can bring us joy.