It’s the most wonderful time of the year! You know, that window where you’re doing all the things you normally do plus a million extra things for the holidays. Whee, fun!

(We still do not have our Christmas tree up. Horrible, I know.)

Give yourself a break this holiday season and take some time to get ready for all those parties you’re scrambling to organize and RSVP for. Plan your menu, arrange your sitter, and then book some time for yourself. Here are five appointments to make right now. You’ll thank me in a week or so.

Refined Cord Shirtdress, Anthropologie, $128

Hair cut and color: Don’t wait until the last minute to book a hair appointment — call now, before all the appointments are taken. Ideally, you want to get your hair cut ten days to two weeks before any photo ops; this gives you a chance to get used to any changes in the style that may result from the cut. If you’re thinking about color, stick with what you’re already doing rather than trying something new; you don’t want Christmas 2010 to be The Year of the Orange Hair.

Manicure and pedicure: A light shade will last the longest, but a dark shade — festive red or hipster gray — is fun for a party. Either way, once you’ve had the full treatment at the nail salon, you can easily change your own polish at home.  A manicure will take about 30 minutes, and it’s a nice break from the holiday crazy; if you can swing the time, book a mani/pedi and give yourself a chance to sit still and breathe deeply.

Brow waxing or tinting: One of the best things about the holidays is the ample opportunities for lounging in pajamas all day — which also means going makeup-free. Take time to clean up your brows and your bare face will still look pulled together. Most nail salons offer waxing, and many hair salons will tint brows. I have mine tinted about every 6 weeks; it totally changes my look. Seriously.

A date with your closet: Make a list of parties and events this holiday season and then plan ahead  — don’t wait until ten minutes before the sitter shows up to decide what you’re going to wear. Spend an hour now trying on your holiday clothes to make sure that each piece fits and looks the way you’re hoping it will. Plan for everything — the office cocktail hour, your annual girls’ holiday dinner, Christmas brunch with your in-laws. Put together full outfits, including shoes and accessories, and then see what you’re missing. I need a pair of satin ballet flats right now; otherwise, I’m all set. Go me.

A date with yourself: The next few weeks are going to be crazy, you know it. Plan some time on your own, or a date night with your husband, or lunch with a girlfriend — a break from the hustle and bustle. I’m running a 10K this weekend, which doesn’t sound like a fancy break, but I promise, an hour of no one talking to me on a Saturday is the best rest ever.