Late last week, a friend bemoaned the fact that when he went to a nearby drugstore to pick up some Halloween candy, he saw that the shelves were already stocked with Christmas treats. Stores, it seems, always want to move us along to the next celebration, even when we haven't finished enjoying the one at hand.

Of course, the flip side of that overly emphatic nudge toward the upcoming holidays is finding ourselves not quite adequately prepared as they draw closer, which can lead to mad dashes to get everything done, not to mention generous doses of stress.

This holiday season, let's aim for the middle ground. Over the next two months, I'll be sharing a series of What to Do Now tips with suggestions on tasks to tackle and plans to make for each phase of the season so that you're not feeling pressured to stock up on Christmas candy the day after Halloween, but also don't find yourself turkey-less two days before Thanksgiving.

(These What to Do Now schedules are taken from my new Guide to Less Stressful Holidays, which is packed with information on how to celebrate in organized style. Check out Related Links below to order a copy of the guide.)

Ready to start planning? Here's what to do now.

Give Yourself a Post-Halloween Breather
You don't need to start baking Thanksgiving pies or pulling out the Christmas decorations as soon as the kids' candy bags are empty. Allow yourself a bit of downtime before you jump into the next phase of holiday prep.

Late in the week, take down and put away your Halloween decorations, and stash any costume supplies for next year. If you find yourself overwhelmed by excess candy, consider getting it out of the house and into good hands by donating it to groups that'll use it; see Related Links below for an article from Cool Mom Picks with ideas on where to send it.

And then...relax. There's plenty of time yet to handle all the details of Thanksgiving.

Start Strategizing for the Holidays Ahead
Now's a good time to do some general thinking about the celebrations awaiting you in November and December. Are there holiday traditions you're ready to retire? New things you'd like to try? Different ways of approaching some of your holiday tasks?

Use the next few weeks to set some general goals and guidelines for your seasonal celebrations. For example, you might decide to reconsider exchanging gifts with friends and extended family, opting instead to pool your money to pay for a special celebration, to make a collective donation to charity, or give one simple gift per family. Share your thoughts and plans with those you celebrate with so you're all on the same page and can figure out details before the holidays.

Get a Handle on the Holiday Supplies You Have
By doing a simple inventory of the supplies and decorations you already have, weeding out holiday stuff you no longer want or need, and bringing some simple organizing systems to the supplies you want to keep, you'll save yourself time and stress in the months ahead.

Tackling this inventory and sorting-and-weeding project before you hit the stores to stock up on new holiday gear will also prevent you from spending money on things you already have or don't need.

Finalize Plans for Thanksgiving Travel
Finally, if you'll be spending Thanksgiving away from home, book your tickets for train or plane travel now, if you haven't already. If your schedule is flexible, try traveling the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and the Friday or Monday after. The day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 25 this year) and the Saturday and Sunday after (November 28 and 29) are among the busiest travel days of the year.