Christmas is less than a week away and that means airports are going to be crowded with people trying to see family and friends for the holidays. Traveling can be very stressful, with security screening being one of the most stressful parts. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to make security screening less intimidating.

First, make sure you read up in what is allowed to go through security. TSA will not hesitate to throw out bottles of shampoo and tubes of toothpaste if they do not meet the liquids requirements. If you are unsure about anything you are bringing through a security checkpoint, check the TSA website. The website covers just about everything that you can imagine. If you still have questions, join the TSA instagram page and ask. I have done this before and received an answer quickly.

The next thing you can do to speed up the process is make sure that all electronics are easily accessible in your bag. You will be required to remove larger electronics for screening, and you don’t want to be digging through your bag for these items.

You will also want your liquids bag to be easily accessible. These items will also need to be removed for screening.

Make sure you wear shoes that can be removed and put back on easily. You will be required to remove your shoes for security screening. You don’t want to be sitting down to remove lace up boots while the security line backs up behind you.

Be prepared to remove your belt and jackets. Again, these items will have to be removed for security screening.

Pack your patience. TSA does their best to make sure everything moves along quickly. List to the agents and follow their instructions. If you have to go through extra screening, follow the agent’s instructions and don’t try to reach for items in your bag.

If you intend to travel with any regularity, consider purchasing TSA pre-check or Global Entry. Pre-check is for domestic travel only and global entry is for international travel. If you decide to purchase Global Entry, Pre-check is included. Both require a screening interview and a purchase fee, but it is worth the money if you travel a few times a year. You are allowed to proceed through a pre-check security line that does not require removal of shoes, jacket, electronics, or liquids. There is a possibility that you will be selected for further screening, but this extra screening has never been an issue for me.

I hope that these tips make traveling this holiday a little less stressful. The biggest thing to remember is arrive with plenty of time for any issue to arise and be resolved. You don’t want to be in the security line while your flight is taking off!