Everybody knows that getting through the holidays isn’t always as easy as it seems.

There is stress combined with annoying recipes, planning for that one family member that may or may not show up to dinner, and the ham that has to cook at that perfect temperature.

Not only is does Thanksgiving serve as a time to be thankful, it also acts as that practice round for that specific kind of stress that follows after for Christmas.

Both holidays require a lot of cooking, food in general, and making sure your friends and family are all around satisfied and happy. Both holidays also account for a rise in national expenses and their fair share of accidents.

Everyone blames the egg nog anyways.

Besides the funny banter and awkward staff parties, here are your tips for surviving and getting through this season of every year without any bumps or bruises. The first thing you should want to do is remain calm. You’re about to eat food, lay around all day afterward and get your fair amount of gifts, so stick around and it might not be as bad as you think.

Let’s start with Thanksgiving. When it comes to this holiday we all look back on the first time it was celebrated. The fabulous colony of Plymouth served as the venue for the event that was shared with the company of both the colonists and the Wampanoag tribe.

Obviously, this first time didn’t include any television or phone screens, as well as barbecue sauce or convection ovens, so the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe did sort of gather in a rather dull circumstance.

But besides the fact that this was probably the reason why part of Thanksgiving is so awkward, what with all the future violence between white settlers and Native Americans being nearly wiped off of the face of this planet, it was still, probably…possibly fun and wholesome.

Back to our contemporary and modern era, Thanksgiving is the reason why so many of us stress out over getting the best deals on Black Friday, and creating a long list of excuses as to why we can’t attend that terrible…maybe even diabolical…staff party.

Combined with the fact that you also have to cook food and make it reasonably perfect at the same time, gives me anxiety right now even as I’m typing this. Let’s go over some possible scenarios and people you should watch out for. First of all, is the drunk, that one person who just can’t stop it with the wine and instead of actually enjoying it just hurls it around thus spilling it on your brand new H&M sweater that you bought just for this occasion, and leaving stains on your carpet.

Not cool..not cool at all. But that’s okay because the next person on the list, the mom of the party, would gladly clean it up for you.

Annoying and frustrated every time someone makes a mess.

This person can’t stand it when a small, microscopic, molecule of a pile of crumbs is left on the couch. Pulling out their secret weapon, those cheap little mini-vacuums they act like a corrective parent and judge you for accidentally dropping a dirty napkin onto the floor. But beyond being clumsy and dealing with irritating family members and such. Keep in mind the fact that Thanksgiving and Christmas are supposed to be fun not boring. You can still have fun, eat your body weight in 30 minutes, and be incredibly lazy for the rest of it. Blame everything on the eggnog and you should be fine.

It’s also good to remember that stressing out isn’t called for – it’s perfectly appropriate. But if it lasts the entire day or evening, then you might as well crown yourself the official Debbie Downer, not everyone may feel the same way as you do so be mindful and aware of that so you and your family can avoid some sort of meltdown, argument, or the start of some sort of no holds barred war. Besides feelings and emotions, you should also keep an eye out for those in your own family. Those crazy family members who always seem to find ways to press your buttons.

You can have fun at the same time while surviving all of the cheek pinches, embarrassing family stories, and questions as to why you’re still single.

So when it comes time to do so, be grateful on Thanksgiving.

And in the words of Hugh Martin, have yourself a merry little Christmas.