It’s that wonderful time of year again — plastic spider webs and ghoulish yard decorations, turkeys and gourds, stockings and tinsel and Christmas lights. There is a wide range of holiday decorations stocked in every store — and that is exactly the problem.

The moment that the temperature drops below 70 degrees, you can expect to see decorations and paraphernalia related to the holiday triad: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whether you are ready for it or not, prepare to be bombarded by festive products and advertisements next time you step foot in Target or Walmart. Bright orange and purple witches are jammed in next to red and green wreaths, all shoved behind the display for “Great Thanksgiving Recipes!”

At the same time that we are frantically searching for the perfect Halloween costume, we are also worrying about where we will spend our Thanksgiving break, and what the perfect present might be for Mom and Dad.

To be fair, these three holidays are fairly crammed in their approximately 60 day span, but why can’t we just take these things one at a time? Can’t we wait for the spooky movies, costumes and candy-engorged stomachs to subside before thinking about what our table will look like on Thanksgiving?

Granted, many people do not celebrate these holidays, instead choosing to celebrate other religious occasions or no holidays at all. As is proven by the well-stocked seasonal aisles in every store, however, the majority of our society does partake in these festivities. As a result, everyone (regardless of holiday or religious beliefs) must suffer through the confusion.

Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas each have their charms and help bring families and friends together. But in order to fully appreciate each of these (and all other) holidays, we should take the time to enjoy one before moving on to the other.

The commercialization, and thus the early sales, of these holidays makes good economic sense. But as individuals, there’s no need for us to be stringing up those red and green lights this early in the year. Before you panic about the fact that you don’t have a gift for your best friend or fiance/fiancee, think about the fact that it is not even Halloween yet. Take one thing at a time. After you’ve planned and hosted your Halloween party, then maybe you can start worrying about the next two big occasions.

Despite how much we all love these occasions, celebrating too early removes exactly what makes them “special.” If we spend three whole months in the Christmas spirit, then Christmas day itself loses the magic that we have come to anticipate.

Sure, the overlap of holidays isn’t the most socially crucial topic out there; however, it is a topic that affects and annoys almost everyone. Even if you are completely enamored by the holiday season, you should see the benefits of taking these special days one at a time.

So, the next time you reach to turn the radio dial to a Christmas station, ask yourself if those carols and tunes will still be enjoyable two months from now.

No matter how high your enthusiasm for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, spare yourself (and all others surrounding you) from the tragedy of getting sick of the holidays before they are even here.