Next time you're struggling across the supermarket car park with a wonky trolley full of Christmas food, don't forget - 'tis the season to be jolly...

For too many of us, the idea Christmas can be fun is a joke left behind in childhood. A recent survey showed 60 per cent of women, given the choice, would give up Christmas Day altogether.

But would they really? The answer is probably not. What they actually want to do away with is the stress of getting everything ready.

It's a close relative of Bride's Syndrome, where the bride can't look forward to the biggest day in her life because there's so much to arrange.

And isn't it a shame? After all, Christmas is supposed to be a time of leisure and good food, spent with our loved ones.

Stress can do as much to harm all that as any other factor. So take a moment for yourself and try our top stress-busting tips; Christmas really can be as it ought to be.

YOU: That's the main thing. You're like an athlete in training for a big event and you need to pace yourself. Eat well, with plenty of food and vegetables, and get plenty of sleep. Take an hour out to go for a pleasant walk, or have a massage - the lift you get will more than repay the time out of your schedule.

PLANNING It's worth spending some time doing this. If you draw up a list of everything you think is essential for the season, you can then go through it and identify things which can, in truth, be shelved if you run out of time.

Planning will also make you feel in charge - stress is most often the result of feeling out of control of an event or role.

THE HOUSE: Stop fretting. As long as it's reasonably clean, your guests won't notice anyway. Don't worry about it being tidy - once the presents are opened, the place will be wrecked anyway.

THE FOOD: Delegate. Even the smallest person in the house can help - just divvie up the jobs and make sure everyone does their fair share. Threaten anyone who won't help with the washing-up. Write a list, then rope everyone in on a major trip to the supermarket to get everything you need in one go - running backwards and forwards for things you have forgotten is a time-consuming hassle.

Remember, you can buy ready-prepared vegetables, and no one will think you're a bad mother. They probably won't even notice, and you can spend all that chopping time saved with your guests and a glass of wine.

THE GIFTS: They are important, but not crucial. Your loved ones would be horrified to learn you ran yourself into a frazzle trying to get exactly the right thing. You can never be absolutely sure people will like the gifts you buy, so make a serous effort to get the right thing, but not an obsessive one.

Keep all the receipts and make a resolution not to be hurt if anyone wants to take an item back.

THE EMOTIONS: Hard to keep in check, but have a go.

Remember, it's not the end of the world if your sprouts are soggy or your mum hates her new jumper. Take a calming breath and let it go. After all, you'll have another chance next year to get it right...