Holidays can sometimes bring about anxiety and the preparation of it all can also sometimes lead to stress. Whether you are house-hopping or hosting, there are things that can be done to help make your Thanksgiving go smoothly. Below are five tips for a seamless holiday.
1. Eat before you leave the house.
On Thanksgiving, many people tend to fast because they're looking forward to the abundance of food that will be served at dinner, which typically leads to overindulgence. It can also lead to agitation. You don't need to necessarily have a full meal earlier in the day, but eating something - "grazing" - will be sufficient to hold you over until Thanksgiving dinner.
2. Prepare your drink of choice.
For those who partake in alcoholic beverages, prepare your drink of choice before you leave. You might even want to take a few sips before you head to your destination(s) (as long as you're not driving, of course) because there's typically always some sort of shenanigans that seem to transpire on holidays. Also, purchase your alcohol ahead of time because most retailers are closed on Thanksgiving.
3. Hire a cleaning service.
A big issue for many people is preparing and cleaning the house for Thanksgiving when they are hosting dinner. Cooking a tasty and delicious holiday meal is stressful enough, so adding cleaning and preparation often brings about stress. If you happen to be over your head during this holiday season, just hire a cleaning service. Applications like Groupon often feature companies that offer discounted services around this time of year.
4. Have a plan and stick to it.
For those who aren't hosting but instead have many stops to make on Thanksgiving, create a concrete and logical plan for the households you're going to visit. For some, it might make sense to plan your stops based on location and which houses are closer. For others, it might be more logistical to plan stops based on dinner times and who may or may not be present. If you're worried about spending unwanted time somewhere, come up with a cue to signal those who are accompanying you. And when you're ready to leave, sound off.
5. Bring what you need.
If you happen to have dietary restrictions (gluten-free, allergies, etc.) or you follow a non-traditional dietary lifestyle (vegan, plant-based, keto, pescetarian, etc.), don't be afraid to bring a dish or two that will accommodate you. People tend to appreciate guests who don't come empty-handed anyway, and you could possibly give others an opportunity to try something new.
*Bonus Tip*
It may be Thanksgiving but remember that it's just another day. Do what you can, try your best not to stress, and enjoy the moment.
