It's ironic that a time traditionally associated with peace and good will to all homo sapiens should be so hectic and bustling. Here are some tips on how to avoid Christmas Stress:
Deliberately plan one or two days over the holiday period that are exclusively set aside for things you enjoy doing;
Ask yourself how you would feel if you had all your shopping and preparation completed;
If the answer to (2) is a positive emotion then allow that feeling to motivate you to complete the preparation;
Make the holiday season a time of fun and try not to take it all too seriously.