Holidays are meant to be filled with fun and laughs, but let’s be real, anyone who’s been in charge of hosting a holiday knows that’s far from the truth. The host generally ends up stressed out for days before cooking begins, then spends the entire day stressed about cooking, only to have to stress about cleaning up afterwards. It’s a great time for everyone except the person doing the grunt of the work and that just isn’t fair! There are some tips and tricks you can use to help lower your stress levels this thanksgiving and ensure you actually get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Spread Out the Work

Trying to prepare everything in one day is simply too much. Instead, prepare some of the dishes the day, or two days, before the celebration. Side dishes that are served cold or those that can be easily reheated in the oven don’t need to be made the same day as your turkey. Clear out plenty of room in the fridge to ensure you have room to store your food safely and start knocking items off your list. You can even chop and prep veggies the day before so it’s one less step you have to do the day of!

Choose the Right Day

Celebrating thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day sounds great, but sometimes it’s more hassle than it’s worth. Talk with your guests and learn what other obligations they have and when. If it makes more sense to host your celebration the day before or the day after Thanksgiving Day, there’s no shame in doing so! If you push yourself to host on Thanksgiving Day only to have guests rushing out the door after the meal to attend their next Thanksgiving celebration, it will create unnecessary stress and anger.

Accept Help

There’s no shame in asking for help with your Thanksgiving preparations. Rather that means asking your spouse, your kids, or even your guests, to pitch in a hand, do it! Asking a guest to bring a pie is a simple task for them but a big weight off of your shoulders.

Celebrate Virtually

2020 is the perfect excuse to forgo Thanksgiving stress altogether and opt for a virtual celebration instead! With COVID-19 on the rise and no vaccine available yet, it really is the safest option. Speak with your family and see how they feel about doing a virtual celebration. You can even play games and listen to music, or even watch a movie together, but all from the safety of your home! If the Thanksgiving stress becomes too overwhelming for you and the stress begins to take a physical toll, visit a nearby urgent care center to be assessed and treated.