3 Tips For A Smooth And (Almost) Stress-Free Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is getting closer and closer and we’re getting very excited! But like us, that excitement may also be met by stress and overwhelm, which is understandable. 

Thanksgiving is a busy time of the year with a lot of things to plan and prepare, from guest lists and dinners to parties and entertainment. Just thinking about it can be exhausting!

We want to make sure you have a smooth and (almost) stress-free Thanksgiving this year, so we’ve prepared some simple tips for you below. Give them a try so you can enjoy this wonderful time rather than loathe it!

Tip 1 - Plan Everything In Advance

When we say everything, we mean it! You don’t want to be rushing around the week before Thanksgiving, especially not ON the day, so planning is vital!

Here’s a quick little checklist to help you prepare the main elements of your Thanksgiving:

• Create your dinner guest list and send the invites to those friends and family members at least 10 days before the day.
• Decide on your menu for the day, and make a list of all the ingredients (and amounts) you will need, as well as other necessities like napkins and cups. Make sure you have everything in your kitchen at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving.
• Plan your entertainment. If you have younger guests coming to your dinner or party, get your kids involved with this plan! They’ll love coming up with ideas and it’ll take some of the strain off of you.
• Prepare your meal as soon as possible. Stuff the turkey (if that’s on your plan), chop your vegetables, make or buy your sauces, and leave it all in the fridge so it’s ready for the big day.

Does it still seem like a lot to plan? Don’t worry! We’ve created some self-organization sheets that you can use to prepare your Thanksgiving, including a daily planner and a printable notes document! Just click right here to download them for free today.

Tip 2 - Take Your Family Photo And Turn It Into A Holiday Card Or Poster!

We all want a beautiful family photo on Thanksgiving and we also love to send holiday cards to our loved ones. So, why not combine the two to reduce stress? Get your family all dressed up and looking nice (either a few days before Thanksgiving or in the morning) and go somewhere fancy for a photo? 

It could be at a professional studio if you’re happy to spend a little extra money, or even just your local hotel lobby! Once you have your photo, you can get them printed and use them in cards and posters to give to your friends and family. We’ve designed some free posters and cards for you to use that’ll make beautiful gifts. Click here to download them!

Tip 3 - Schedule Time For Self Care

In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you’re always so busy preparing, planning and doing 

things that you can forget to take care of yourself! So we recommend scheduling time to do so something relaxing and fun by yourself or with friends. Maybe you could book a manicure with your gals, or have a fun cookie exchange evening, it’s up to you! Having this time to chill out during or after the hectic Thanksgiving holiday will make your experience much more enjoyable.

To aid you in putting your self-care first, we have some free downloadables for you, such as a self-care planner, self-care tracker, self-reflection questions, printable affirmations and more. Simply download and print them out today by clicking here.

We hope these tips help you to have a relaxing, loving and stress-free Thanksgiving this year! 

Best wishes.