Kristy's Top 10 Holiday Season Survival Tips

As much as we love summer, we all know that it can be one of the most stressful times of year.

There are Christmas presents to buy, constant visitors, holidays to plan and kids on school holidays, and that's just the beginning. That said, I've put together a few tips to help you relax and enjoy your summer. Plus, this time you can tell me your opinion and let me know what you think the best holiday season survival tip is.

Vote for YOUR favourite tip and see what the rest of new Zealand thinks!

Get your Christmas shopping done early

A shopping mall on Christmas Eve is definitely not where you want to be. As soon as you hit the car park, you'll realise that half of the country is in the same last-minute shopping predicament and trying to do exactly the same thing.

Slip, slop, slap and wrap

I know, it's been drummed into us every summer, but Kiwis have a disturbingly high skin cancer rate. So make sure you slip into a shirt (and shade if you can), slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat and wrap on some sunnies. Who wants red, sore sunburn? Not us!

Water is your new best friend

Take it everywhere that you go, and don't forget it. Drinking water regularly will keep you hydrated and alert throughout those long, hot summer days. Remember, if you become thirsty, chances are you're already dehydrated.

Remember the true meaning of Christmas

It's easy to concentrate on everything that needs to be done in preparation for the big day and forget about everything else, but make sure you take time out with your family and spend some stress-free time together. It'll put everything into perspective.

Plan for the inevitable 'I'm bored...' from the kids

As much as having a few days without plans is a luxury to many, unfortunately kids have short attention spans and are bound to get bored with nothing to do. Have a list of a few fun games up your sleeve, and plan a few activities throughout the holidays to keep them occupied.

Try something different

Whether it's visiting a new holiday spot, trying an activity that you've never done before or something as simple as trying a new recipe, trying something different this summer will inject some excitement into your holidays. Go on, break the routine!

Free time

Make sure you give yourself at least a few days where you have nothing at all planned, and all there is to do is relax and recharge the batteries. Isn't that what summer's all about?

Give the car a good check-up

Give the car a good check-up or service before hitting the road this summer. That means getting the tyre pressure and tread (including the spare), oil and water levels and brakes checked. It's worth it, if not only to save you trying to change a tyre in the sweltering heat.

Look after yourself and your friends and family

They don't call it the silly season for nothing. Summer is the time when socialising becomes much more frequent, and with this comes alcohol. If you're drinking, keep an eye on your family and friends, make sure you have a sober driver agreed on, and don't overdo it - no one likes a hangover!

Get planning NOW

There's no denying that Christmas is a particularly busy time of year, and there is much to organise. But the moral of the story is: get your planning done sooner rather than later. Rushing around at the last minute trying to sort out accommodation, transport or even dinner parties is bound to stress you out, and we don't want that.