The holidays are a joyous time of year, especially when you're a kid. Time off from school, the house gets all festive, there are parties and concerts and isn't it fun?

Well, many of us are adults now (supposedly) and now we know all that joy and holiday spirit doesn't just magically appear. It takes hard work and effort to make happen. Shopping, decorating, planning — it all can be stressful, and stress can take a toll on your health and your ability to make healthy choices.

After a long day, ordering Chinese or a pizza sure seems a lot easier than cooking a healthful meal.

Don't worry, an occasional pizza or take-out night isn't a bad thing. But during the holidays it can become too frequent, coupled with skipping workouts because we're just too tired or there isn't enough time.

During this time of the year, it's even more important to keep on track with healthy living, because guess what? It can help get rid of those “bah humbug” feelings that can sneak up on you when it just seems like there aren't enough hours in the day. Plus, if you know you've stayed on track, you don't need to worry about having a glass of eggnog or a couple Christmas cookies.

Here are some ways you can keep on track, both with lowering stress and living a healthful life.

1. Lower your stress by doing a lot of your shopping online, and as early as possible: no lines, and delivery right to your door.

2. When you do have time to cook, double the recipe and save half in your fridge or freezer. That way, when you don't feel like cooking, fast food won't be your only option. Punching numbers on a microwave is just as easy as pushing buttons on a phone.

3. Don't feel like driving in the snow to hit the gym? You don't have to. I'll bet most of us have a few workout DVDs lying around. Maybe it's time to dust them off. Or, just plug in your favorite dance tunes and boogie around the house. Hey, it all burns calories, and it's fun too.

4. Decorating can be fun, but that doesn't mean you have to do it. If it's more stress than you want to deal with, hang a wreath on the door and call it good. It's your home, which means it's your choice. If you do love decorating, you don't have to do it all yourself. Involve the family.

5. Snowball fight! OK, this one is a little silly, but really, when was the last time you played in the snow? Whether you've got kids or not, this is a great way to have a ball (snowball?)

6. Create a playlist of your favorite holiday music and play it in the background at home or work.

7. Take time for yourself, every day. Curl up and read, watch a favorite TV show, take a walk. Even if it's just half an hour, you need time for you.

8. Do your best to not overeat at parties and family gatherings. Yes, there is a lot of food, but just think about how good it will feel to not have a tummy ache from overeating, and how happy you’ll be that you kept your calories in check.

9. Most importantly, remind yourself that it doesn't have to be perfect. And you don't have to do it all yourself.

Happy holidays!