The festive period can be overwhelming but don't get stressed; our Christmas survival guide will help you through the pitfalls

Parties – Don't overcommit, and only accept invitations to parties you want to attend, perhaps arranging a January catch-up with the others. If you still have several to attend, then watch your alcohol consumption, drinking water between alcoholic drinks. You will thank us during your party the following evening.

Shopping - It is important not to panic with Christmas shopping, and to remember that late-night shopping hours are now your best friend! If you are rubbish at buying gifts, try and gage what your friends and loved ones want for Christmas. If you still can't manage it, then get them bubble bath.

Christmas Lunch – It's all about the planning! Creating a timetable for Christmas week will take pressure off the day itself. Try to prepare the food in advance where possible, and refer back to your plan. Delegating jobs to family members will ease pressure, as well as helping everyone to feel involved.

Family – When families spend a prolonged period of time together, tensions can arise. Don't force yourselves to be together for the whole time, family time should feel special and not enforced. Often being cooped up together can be the problem; take the whole family for a festive walk to make everyone feel better and also to burn some of those festive calories!

Weight-watching – A laden Christmas table can be a mine-field for those trying to watch their weight, and the average weight gain over the festive season is 5lb. Eat slowly so that your body will recognise when you're full. If you are the one doing the cooking, chestnut-based stuffings are lower in fat than those that are bread or sausage-based. Monitor your alcohol consumption, as the empty calories in alcohol only add to festive weight-gain.