Stress Free Holidays Part 8
Thanksgiving Stress Avoidance - Last Minute Tasks To Do To Have A Fun Thanksgiving Day
There is no reason to experience Thanksgiving stress this year, if you do some simple typically last minute tasks ahead of time.
Can you believe we are already into Week 8 of this
Stress Free Holidays series?
Time just seems to be flying by, doesn't it? But of course it always does during the holiday season since we are so busy.
This week we are focusing almost exclusively on Thanksgiving, since it actually happens this week. We'll continue with more Christmas preparations next week, and beyond.
In addition, this week we will briefly focus on "Black Friday" for those of you brave enough to go out shopping the day after Thanksgiving.
Avoid Thanksgiving Stress With These Final Tasks
If you've been doing the weekly missions in this series you will feel pretty prepared for Thanksgiving right now, since I have tried to space out some of the big tasks each week.
This does not mean Thanksgiving day won't be busy. It will be busy if you are cooking lots of food and hosting guests. That is unavoidable.
However, busy and stressful are not the same thing. If you have a plan, and then work your plan everything can get done in an enjoyable fashion.
First, get all the stuff out of the way that doesn't have to do with cooking or baking. All this stuff, like cleaning your home, polishing silver, ironing and folding napkins, getting ready for guests, etc., should be done as soon as possible early this week if it isn't all done yet.
Next, to avoid Thanksgiving stress later focus on all the food related Thanksgiving preparations that couldn't get done until closer to the actual Thanksgiving day.
For example, now is the time to go to the store for your big shopping trip of perishable groceries that you couldn't buy earlier this month.
In addition, if you have a frozen turkey make sure you begin defrosting it in plenty of time. This may be today, for example, if you have a big bird and plan to defrost it in the refrigerator.
Here is a resource on the site to help you know when to begin defrosting your bird, based on its size:
Finally, prepare any foods you can the day or two before Thanksgiving, such as pies, breads, or casseroles. Then, make a plan for how to re-heat or cook any of the food you prepare ahead of time, and also the food that must be cooked the day of Thanksgiving.
To do this decide on the time you will eat Thanksgiving dinner, and then work backwards taking into account cooking times, what will be in the oven when, and at what temperature, and also preparation times for various items. Then, you can follow your plan to know when to start prepping various items, and when to place things in the oven.
Finally, the key to Thanksgiving stress avoidance is accepting help in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. Even if someone doesn't know how to cook some of the dishes they can help with food preparation, or even just washing dishes. Anything can be helpful and take the burden off you. You don't have to do this alone!
The same goes for the big clean up afterward. You worked hard to cook and prepare for guests. Let them help you clean up afterward, clearing plates, putting away leftovers, washing dishes, etc. These guests are people that love you, and you love them. Love yourself enough to let them help you and Thanksgiving stress will be a thing of the past.
If You've Put Off Planning Your Thanksgiving Meal Here's A Book That Can Help
Time sometimes slips away from all of us. If this has happened to you and you're starting to feel some Thanksgiving stress don't despair. Here's an ebook that can help you get your meal together fast.
My good friend Crystal, from MakeDinnerEasy.com, has put together this 31 page ebook with a full dinner menu, complete with tasty but still easy recipes, and completely taken the guess work out of this special meal for you.
You get a step-by-step planning guide, make ahead recipes, a menu plus recipes for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner complete with dessert, and a grocery shopping list already put together for you!
What If You're Not Preparing The Meal But Going To Family Instead?
All the stuff above may not apply to you if you're not cooking the Thanksgiving meal yourself, or if the big meal isn't at your home. However, that doesn't mean you're immune from Thanksgiving stress. You just have a different kind of stress -- traveling.
Thanksgiving, and the days leading up to it, are some of the most traveled of the year. Do yourself a favor and give yourself plenty of time to plan everything that you'll need to pack for your family, get all the clothes clean and ready, including nice clothes for the big meal, and everything else that needs to be done to leave town for a couple of days with kids in tow.
If you're flying with kids you face some additional stresses that us car riders don't necessarily experience. I don't personally have good advice for you about this but my friend Katie from LaJollaMom.com does. I know Katie from when we both wrote in the Home & Garden channel of Tree.com (she was my boss as head of the channel) and she knows a lot about flying with small kids, having taken her little girl, "LaJolla Girl" all around the world as she and her husband travel for business and pleasure.
She's written an ebook with all her great tips and tricks to keep yourself and your children sane while traveling, and it's only $2.99 [click here to purchase it]. I've reviewed it and it is really great, just like everything else Katie does. I definitely got some good ideas for myself and my kids from it.
Here's a video clip of Katie when she was on an NBC affiliate channel in California discussing travel with kids on airplanes. The part about the crayons which don't roll during turbulence -- priceless! (I think I need some of these for the car too!)
Preparations For Black Friday Shopping
If you plan to go out the day after Thanksgiving for some shopping, known as "Black Friday," then you should prepare yourself ahead of time to make it as fun as possible, without stress and hassle.
First of all, know what deals you are looking for and at what stores they are located at. Review the ads and make your plan of priorities. Remember, it isn't a deal if you don't really want or need it.
To help you with this use your printable Christmas gift list that I have created, which helps keep track of both the gifts you want to buy and also your Christmas gift budget at the same time.
Also, eat and drink ahead of time, and get enough rest the night before if you are getting up really early, so you are not exhausted and feeling bad while doing your shopping. After having a fun Thanksgiving Day you want to avoid day after Thanksgiving stress too!
Tell Me How This Week's Challenge Is Going For You
I'd love to hear how this challenge is going for you this week. Are you avoiding Thanksging stress so far? Tell me in the comments, and we can cheer each other on, or help each other overcome obstacles that are causing us holiday stress.
Previous Parts Of The Stress Free Holiday Series
If you missed the previous parts of this series, you can still jump in. There is always time to start.
Here are the previous challenges:
If You're Reporting On Your Progress For This Challenge On Your Own Blog Grab This Button!
If you have your own blog, and report on your experience or success with avoid Thanksgiving stress this year or with other tasks this week I would love it if you grabbed my button to place on your posts so everyone can participate!
Here's the code:
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