How to Make Thanksgiving Less Stressful
Thanksgiving is one of the biggest family events every year.
Many of us love it because it’s the one time the whole clan comes together for some family fun – cooking and eating together, playing games together, relaxing and engaging in endless fits of laughter.
Others consider it the worst holiday on the calendar because it is that time of the year when we come face to face with those annoying relatives you always find in every family.
Like Uncle Jared who can’t stop pestering you about finding a job. Or Aunt Dorothy who looks for every available opportunity to brag about the linens they saw during their recent vacation in some tropical destination.
And, of course, there is always that mean, little jerk who revels in making unpleasant observations about you.
Whichever side of the divide you lie, hosting a Thanksgiving party can feel overwhelming and highly stressful. And that’s because there are just so many details that need to be synchronized.
If the hosting baton has been passed to you this year, it is only natural for panic to set in. But there are ways you can calm the nerves sans the wine and actually enjoy the big Turkey Day.
Here are few tips.
Come up with a Plan
The one thing that can cushion you from potential gaffes is devising a Thanksgiving plan and sticking to it. A good plan is like a compass without which you have no clear idea of where you are headed, and it also helps take the pressure off your shoulders.
This plan should encompass all those little things that go toward making the holiday a success: knowing who is coming (and any food restrictions they may have); the seating location; any materials you may need (barware, tablecloths and extra chairs, for example); the décor; preparation chores such as cleaning out the refrigerator (a must before Thanksgiving) and so on.
A good plan should also have a timeline indicating when each item on the list should be checked off.
A little preparation never hurt, and you will be glad you did it.
Stock up on Supplies
As far as reducing stress on Thanksgiving goes, supplies can make a world of difference.
Source everything you need early on – china, flatware, glasses, knives for slicing, carving and chopping, serving spoons and dishes, oven mitts and so on. The same goes for groceries.
Also make sure you have adequate oven racks because you will want to heat more than one item at a time.
It is always advisable to do an inventory of your cookware a couple of weeks prior to the main event. If you are covered on this front, good for you. If not, purchase anything that needs purchasing to avoid scrambling when the big day rolls around.
It is also worth noting that you don’t need to buy everything you think you will need. Some things like tables, extra chairs, dishes, pots, pans, a meat thermometer and the like that you don’t think you will need after the holiday are sometimes best sourced from party-rental stores.
Write out the Menu
Thanksgiving dinner menu is often a tradition most people don’t veer away from, but still, it helps to be clear on what exactly will be served.
Come up with a list of ingredients for all dishes you intend to serve, and make sure you have ample supplies of everything you need – the sugar, the flour, spices and so on.
Purchase your ingredients well in advance to avoid running short of items when you need them most. Besides, shopping early helps avoid the last-minute craziness.
Cook in Advance
You don’t have to wait until D-Day to get the pies, cookies and some side dishes ready.
The good thing about most desserts and sides is that they can be prepped several days ahead of time, or at least readied to some extent – the rolls and cranberry sauce can be made a few days before; casseroles can sit in the fridge prior to baking.
In addition to making your work easier on D-Day, what advance preparation does is free up the stove.
Get Everyone Involved
Most of the stress surrounding Thanksgiving is due to the tendency by the host to take on more than they can chew. The burden of the day from start to finish doesn’t need to rest squarely on the shoulders of one person.
There is no harm in getting everyone involved in some of the simple tasks, whether it’s rolling out the pie dough, snapping beans, opening and setting out the crackers, serving drinks, even the cooking itself.
This is a family meal that everyone can pitch in on. And there is a lot of fun in that.
Still, there is always the option of…
Hiring Outside Help
There is no shame in enlisting the services of a local chef or caterer to help the meal go smoothly. This will literally free 85% of your chores, and with it, most of the pressure.
You don’t have to assign all the cooking to the outside help; if you would rather whip up some of the dishes yourself, by all means, go right ahead and leave some of the dishes – sides or desserts, for instance (or probably the bird) – to a capable professional who is there to make your life easier.
This might turn out to be one of the best Thanksgiving decision you ever made.
Alternatively, consider making the holiday a potluck by assigning each of the guests a dish to prepare based on what you need and what they feel comfortable making.
Use Disposable Utensils
One of the biggest downsides of playing host is waking up to the aftermath long after everyone has departed. The cleaning part is especially the worst, and Thanksgiving is no different.
There is always a ton of dirty dishes to look forward to after the occasion. To some extent, however, the messy scenario can be avoided, and one way to do this is to use disposable utensils, including cups and plates.
Disposable dinnerware has come a long way and is no longer made from the lightweight, gravy-soaked paper products of yore. These days we have fancier, fully recycled options that can help reduce the amount of post-meal cleaning that awaits you.
Final Thoughts
While Thanksgiving can be a stressful holiday for the host, following these tips can be extremely helpful.
While you are at it, don’t forget there is more to the boisterous and delicious holiday than just the cooking and merry-making. Above all, take the time to find some moments of gratitude amidst all the fun and mayhem.
Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
