* Lower your expectations. The holidays are so exciting! Having family over, Christmas decorations, lights, presents and wining and dining! As the holiday looms large on the horizon, expectations widen as to how the holiday might turn out only for them to be scuppered when the holidays arrive. So, try not to place high expectations on how events will unfold. Frequently expect the unexpected and call to mind that humans can react inconsistently and surprisingly. Also, life can send us the odd curve ball, especially when we think things are going great so just have a "what will be will be" feeling and hopefully, the holidays will be just right. Avoiding high hopes means you won't become stressed out or bewildered should festivities go pear-shaped.

* Prepare in advance. Make a full plan for all of the activities you need to do. Be thorough and try to do as much preparation as is feasible. The more you can get done before the holidays the less stressful the season will be. Include shopping, decorations, wrapping, meal preparation, sending cards, visiting family, and a schedule for the big day. This will help you get ordered so you'll get more done and you'll feel less stressed. Create to do lists so you can gauge progress as you go. Another great tip is to have a backup plan in case things stray off track.

* Get others involved. There's a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure happy holidays. The Christmas dinner alone really can be hard work for the cook! Feeling overwhelmed leads to stress burnout so make sure all those present share the workload. Allocate chores to others by ensuring everyone plays their part amongst the whole family and get kids involved too. It's true - many hands make light work - and they also help keep stress at bay in doing so.

* Whereas the festive season is about enjoying quality time with family, having the family over can be emotionally trying. Not all families get along, and stress levels can soar at family gatherings. If you have family members who are unhappy, combative, aggressive, petulant - unhappy souls who will make everyone else stressed, then say "no!" and don't invite them. The holidays are about joy and happiness, so inviting people who will cause nothing but upset isn't on. Unfortunately feelings of guilt can lead to inviting someone around against your better judgement. Your only duty is to your immediate family – your spouse and your little ones - not to any other family members. If your family exist peacefully, fine, but if you know there will be altercations, then make everyone's day by not having stress as an unwanted holiday guest.

* Work out your financial limit and don't stray. It's really tempting to spend money during the holidays and many people will get into serious debt doing so. The debt then becomes a serious burden after the holidays have ended. Christmas doesn't mean you have to buy people expensive gifts and you're not obligated to be profligate with your money to impress people. The World Wide Web is an extraordinary source for finding creative and imaginative gifts that will give the receiver a highly valued special surprise because it shows you've made a real effort. Debt is to stress what pizzas are to waistlines and you can repent long and hard for impressing people with gifts. Stay within your financial limit and you will alleviate stress, not just during Christmas and New Year but for many months after.