Seven Ways to Avoid Stress this Thanksgiving

Seven Ways to Avoid Stress this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many are already starting to experience stress related to planning, prepping, and executing the perfect holiday meal. Here are some tips to help alleviate some holiday stress and leave more time to enjoy time with loved ones.

Make a detailed plan.
From getting an early head count to deciding your menu in advance, you’ll feel better knowing your plan is under control. Let your list include everything from the guest list and menu to when you’ll decorate, shop for supplies, cook and clean.

Give recipes a test run.
Want to cook a new recipe? Give it a trial run before Thanksgiving so you have time to plan an alternative if it doesn’t work out. You’ll feel much more confident having the opportunity to make tweaks before the real deal.

Prioritize your cleaning.
Tidy up the clutter before anything else, and clean your kids’ rooms last, or not at all. The goal is to clear and clean the areas that will be used by your guests, not every last corner of your home. If time is more important than money, consider hiring a cleaning service – it may be well worth the extra cost!

Use disposable pans.
Use disposable pans when possible, especially for the turkey. Turkey drippings make for very greasy, hard-to-scrub dishes. But be sure to avoid accidents by placing a large pan or cookie sheet under your filled disposable pan for safe carrying. This will also help eliminate some cleaning at the end of the day.

Set your table the day before.
Better yet, designate a guest or kids to help set the table!

Cook as far ahead as possible.
Don’t save the entire meal for Thanksgiving Day. About a week before the event, look at all your recipes and decide which ones can be prepared in advance and reheated without sacrificing flavor or texture. Desserts work especially well – there are plenty of pies, cakes and puddings that can be made days in advance and stuck in the freezer, saving you time on Thanksgiving for everything else.

Consider a potluck meal.
Sometimes our schedules may not allow enough time to prep or get a head start, so asking each guest to bring a dish can help ease your burden. Be sure to keep track of everyone’s intended contributions to avoid having duplicates and ensure all the delicious sides are accounted for!

Be sure to take a few extra steps to avoid any unnecessary stress this holiday. You’ll be thankful and allow yourself more quality time with family and close friends. Cheers to a successful and gratuitous Thanksgiving holiday!