How to Host a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner

Hosting all your loved ones for Thanksgiving dinner in your stunning apartment is exciting, but it can also be stressful! For the most part, you’ll most likely have to do most of the heavy lifting in terms of cooking but you’ll also get to see everyone’s smile once they try your dinner. To reduce the amount of stress and increase the quality time you can spend with your guests, here are some Thanksgiving hosting tips that will give you time to breathe and enjoy your holiday.

Have a Timeline

Having a timeline will make your whole day and even week run smoother. Planning when you’ll go to the store to pick up your ingredients and when you’ll start cooking will save you the stress of running around feeling like you’re behind. Schedule some extra time to get ready and relax before everyone gets there as well. You want to make sure you’re in the best mood when everyone arrives.

Clean and Organize

Make sure you put away all the things you have lying around that you either have been meaning to put away or that you feel need to be out of sight to have your place looking the tidiest. Next, focus just on cleaning the areas your guests will be using. This includes your living room, restroom, dining area, and kitchen. A quick run-through should do it!

Prep

We’re not just talking about the food! It’s important to make sure you have all the dishes you will be using. It’s easy to forget to check when all your focus is on the food. There is nothing more stressful than having your food ready only to find you have nothing to serve it in. Some things to look out for include large trays, serving ladles, extra plates, cutlery, and cups. Even prep what you’ll be wearing for the special day!

Ask For Help

Remember, people enjoy helping! If your guests ask if you need help cooking or if they should bring something, say yes! It will take some weight off your shoulders. In case none of them directly ask you, you can ask them to bring a little something like a dessert or an appetizer.

Keep It Simple

You don’t need to go all out, you can just keep it simple on the things you don’t know how to do that well. For example, if there is a dish you know will take you long or you haven’t tried to make it before, you can go to your favorite local restaurant and pick up something that is already prepared. If you’re preparing appetizers, get something that is easy to put together like a charcuterie board. Keeping it simple will save you tons of time.

We hope you were able to get some tips on how to host a successful and stress-free Thanksgiving dinner. Make sure you plan ahead, ask for help, and keep it simple. The most important thing is to enjoy this special day with all the people you are thankful for.