Thanksgiving can be a lot of work, especially if you’re hosting the big event! Here are some great ways to cut down on stress, no matter what your role this thanksgiving.
Step 1. Plan ahead
Who is attending? What are you serving? How will you be decorating? When do you need to start cooking? Who’s going to get the house clean before the event? Make a list of all the duties to be done for thanksgiving, and plan who and when they will be taken care of. The more you know ahead of time, the less stress you’ll have on the spot. Here is a helpful thanksgiving planner tool from RealSimple.
Step 2. Get help
If you’ve got a big family to help you with your day, that’s awesome. Get your aunt to make the mashed potatoes, and send your nephew out to get decorations. If you need a little extra help, you might consider hiring a caterer, a cleaning service, or even a pet-sitter to minimize your stress on Thanksgiving day.
Step 3. Do a trial run
You might be attempting some pretty complicated recipes for the first time. Try cooking a small batch for dinner a few weeks in advance to make sure you know the intricacies of the dish. It will be easier to time all your cooking, when you know what to expect.
Step 4. Prepare some food ahead of time
Some things, like the pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes, can be prepared head of time. You can even set the table the day before and cover it with a table cloth to prevent dust settling on your dishes. Whatever you can get out of the way BEFORE Thanksgiving will allow you to enjoy your company and gratitude on the day of.
Step 5. The most important step
Finally, forget your expectations. Your inner critic may be comparing your Thanksgiving to the Thanksgiving’s your parents have hosted, or ones you’ve seen on TV. Remember that you can’t control everything, and that Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude and togetherness, not plastic perfection. Things will go wrong, but let go and don’t beat yourself up over it. First and foremost, give thanks. Then worry about the stuffing.