Between buying presents, writing cards, organising meals, decorating the house and arranging visits, the list of jobs can seem endless.
But here's an idea.
Instead of trying to organise everything in a few exhausting days, why not spend just 30 minutes each day preparing for Christmas?
Start by making a master list.
Write down everything you need to do, from ordering presents to checking whether the Christmas lights still work.
Then divide the tasks into manageable activities.
On Monday, you might review your gift list and budget.
Tuesday could be devoted to researching presents online.
Wednesday might be the day to write Christmas cards or prepare greetings.
Thursday could involve checking decorations and identifying anything that needs replacing.
Friday might be spent planning festive meals.
At the weekend, you could tackle a slightly larger activity, such as wrapping presents or decorating a room.
Of course, some tasks take longer than half an hour, but breaking them into smaller stages makes them less intimidating.
Christmas cooking can also benefit from advance preparation.
Some dishes can be prepared and frozen, while non-perishable ingredients can be purchased gradually.
Keep a calendar of important dates, including postal deadlines, social events and planned family visits.
And remember to build in some flexibility.
Unexpected events happen, and Christmas shouldn't become a source of anxiety simply because something hasn't gone according to plan.
Perhaps most importantly, share the work.
Other members of the household can help with shopping, decorating, cooking and cleaning.
At That's Christmas 365, we believe preparing for Christmas should be enjoyable.
Thirty minutes of focused activity each day can make an enormous difference.
And when Christmas Eve finally arrives, you might discover something rather wonderful.
Instead of rushing around in a panic, you can actually relax and enjoy the festivities.
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