The holiday season is meant to be filled with happiness, cheer, love, and joy. However, some of us are facing obstacles that make that perfect Hallmark Channel holiday season completely unobtainable. If you are one of those people who are dreading the holidays this year, here are some tips to help you survive!

1. Know you are not alone

Everyone goes through holiday dread. Chances are half the people on your bus/train/in the store are dreading the holidays just as much as you are.

2. Focus on the good things in your life

This can be friends, family, partners, pets— basically, anything that puts a smile on your face. If one of these, or the lack of one of these is bringing you down, then focus on the other things. If all of these are bringing you down, then focus on yourself. You are amazing!

3. Hide

You don't have to deal with it if you can't see it. Right???

4. Embrace the sadness

I foresee a lot of Lifetime and Hallmark Channel watching in your future if this is your path.

5. Cynicism

Keep reminding yourself that the holidays were created by man for a plethora of reasons that have little to nothing to do with the religion, love, joy, happiness, blah, blah, blah meanings that we are forced to believe they are about.

6. Sarcasm

This one comes in especially handy when dealing with relatives that feel the need to harass you about every decision you are/are not making in your life. One straight-faced explanation to grandma about your boyfriend not being there for the holidays because he has three more months left to serve out his sentence is enough to leave her speechless and afraid to ask anymore probing questions on your life.

7. Flula Borg

Nothing is sad when you're watching this guy! Love it.

8. My personal favorites