For many, the holidays mean pure happiness, but too often the holiday blues take over and put those festive feelings on hold.

But there are coping tips that doctors said can make a difference.

A local woman said having a plan helps her battle low spirits this time of year.

"I didn't want to do any of it. I didn't want any parts of it at all," Mary Dean, of South Hampton, Pa., said.

Many years ago, Dean lost her husband close to Christmas. She is remarried now but still finds it hard to enjoy this time of year. That's why a plan helps her prepare for when the dark moments hit.

"I don't think you can predict when it's going to happen, it sneaks up," Dean said.

Dean said she tries to have her shopping finished before Thanksgiving. She keeps lists and limits spending.

She and her husband Bob try to keep decorations easy and simple and they have worked hard to get it all done early.

Dr. Rajnish Mago is director of the mood disorders program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

He said maintaining a routine is crucial.

"Meaning they wake up, go to bed and eat at reasonably regular times and they are less likely to get depressed because the biorhythm in the brain remains more stable," Mago said.

He said to give up the idea of finding the perfect gift for everyone -- do that on his or her birthday.

Find one good holiday gift, and buy it for everyone.

Also, go easy on the chocolate.

"Chocolate has certain chemicals that affect the brain and cheer us up," Mago said. "However, over a period of time it leads to the person being more sad and for the sadness to last longer."

Don't invite bickering relatives over at the same time and avoid sadness triggers.

If "Silent Night' makes you cry, don't listen to it.

Dean said accepting that her life didn't turn out as expected but is still good also helps.

"I am one of the luckiest women in the world," she said.

Sometimes it's more than holiday blues. If you feel sad a lot throughout the winter, you could have seasonal affective disorder, which is a form of depression related to decreased light in winter. Doctors can treat it.

Doctors said if you aren't sleeping well or are sleeping a lot, you could have a more serious form of depression. Other signs of serious depression are feelings of hopelessness, having trouble at work or thoughts of suicide.

Talk to a doctor right away because you could be dealing with clinical depression, which can be treated.