An Organized Thanksgiving: Less Stress, More Enjoyment

It’s never too early to start thinking about Thanksgiving. The stores are already filled with decorations, cooking supplies, and holiday everything - and the holiday will be here soon!

The good news? “Organized,” “stress-free,” and “Thanksgiving” really can be used in the same sentence.

It starts with planning ahead and, perhaps more importantly, deciding what you want your Thanksgiving to look like.

What do you really want?

Do you really want to serve a formal sit-down dinner for twenty people?

Or would a buffet be easier - and just as enjoyable?

If you want a fancy dinner but twenty guests feels overwhelming, make the guest list smaller. If having all twenty people together is important to you, consider a buffet.

You get to decide what works for you.

Thanksgiving doesn't have to look like someone else's Thanksgiving. You don't have to serve every traditional dish just because “that's the way we've always done it.”  Make a menu you actually enjoy. Start a new tradition. Simplify the meal if that makes the day more enjoyable.

Divide and conquer

Don't try to do everything yourself.

Enlist your family. And friends.  Give people specific jobs and let them know what you need ahead of time. Assigning tasks before Thanksgiving means you won't have to spend the day reminding everyone what needs to be done.

And remember - this is your holiday, too. You deserve to enjoy it.

Start early

A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, decide on:

• Your guest list
• The type of gathering
• Your menu
• What you can prepare ahead of time

Once you know when you want dinner served, work backward. Create a simple timetable for the turkey, side dishes, and anything else that needs to be ready.

Write it down and keep it where you can easily see it. When the house fills with family and guests, it's easy to lose track of what you were supposed to be doing. A simple list can keep you on track and prevent the last-minute panic.

A few days before

Do as much as you reasonably can ahead of time:

• Shop for groceries and other essentials.
• Check your pantry for spices and ingredients you don't use often.
• Bake anything that can be made ahead.
• Thaw the turkey according to its size and the time needed.
• Buy beverages and anything else you won't want to worry about at the last minute.

The day before

Take care of the details that will make Thanksgiving Day easier.

Chop vegetables and other ingredients that can be prepared ahead of time. Make whatever dishes you can in advance. Set out your serving dishes and make sure you have enough plates, glasses, and silverware.

And don't forget the ice!

Most importantly, make sure your family knows what you need them to do the next day.

Thanksgiving Day

Give yourself a little time in the morning before the day gets busy. Have your coffee. Sit down. Take a breath.

Then look at your timetable and get started.

Gather your ingredients and cooking utensils. Measure out what you can ahead of time. Follow your schedule and let your family handle their assigned jobs.

And then comes the part that matters most:

Sit down. Eat. Talk. Laugh. Enjoy your family and friends.

That's what Thanksgiving is really about.

Don't worry about perfection

Everything does not have to be perfect.

The turkey might not look like the picture. The potatoes might get a little cold. Someone might spill something. And that's okay.

If preparing a huge meal makes you miserable, make a smaller meal. Skip the complicated dessert. Use paper plates. Order part of the meal. Ask everyone to bring something.

There is no Thanksgiving rule that says you have to exhaust yourself to make the holiday special.

The goal isn't to create the perfect Thanksgiving.

The goal is to spend time with the people you care about and actually enjoy the day.

So, start early, make a plan, ask for help, and give yourself permission to keep things simple.

And maybe this year, start a new tradition - one that puts family, friends, and enjoying the holiday at the center.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

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