Thanksgiving is just over 2 weeks away! If you are hosting this year, you might be getting a little overwhelmed by all you have to do. But don’t worry! There are just 3 steps you need to take to prepare for a stress-free and fun-filled Thanksgiving.
While I love hosting people, I do like to prepare in advance so that I’m not stressed out when I should be enjoying the season. I’ve not always been this way. Unfortunately, I’ve had to learn this lesson the hard way! There are a 3 things I try to focus on in the weeks leading up to hosting Thanksgiving that really help me to prepare my home and mind for the holiday.
1. Cleaning
I try to make an achievable list of house cleaning tasks I want to accomplish during the month. I make a list of tasks that can be done at the beginning of the month as well as a list of tasks that I want to do within a few days of Thanksgiving Day. My lists this year look like this:
Monthly Tasks
Wipe Down Kitchen Cabinets
Clean Ceiling Fans
Vacuum Sofas & Cushions
Clean Windows in Main Living Space
Quick Dust Light Fixtures
Clean Microwave, Dishwasher & Stove/Oven
Week of Thanksgiving
Scrub Bathrooms
Sweep & Mop Floors
Vacuum
Dust
Change Bed Linens
Clean Out Fridge & Freezer
Sweep Off Front Porch & Walkway
My goal for the week of Thanksgiving is to have all of my cleaning done by Tuesday evening. We usually spend the Wednesday before Thanksgiving baking pies as a family. I really want to be able to enjoy this day, so whatever gets done by Tuesday night, gets done.
If you can make a realistic cleaning list and work through it over the month of November, you will feel much less stressed the week of Thanksgiving! Be realistic with yourself. Get done what you can and move on!
2. Menu Planning
We do a semi-pot luck style Thanksgiving, which I know a lot of families don’t do. I’m very blessed that both my parents and my in-laws offer to bring a couple dishes each. This helps with the time crunch the day of Thanksgiving as well as the budget.
Once I know what I need to make, I create a list of everything I will need and add it to my grocery list. I try to get to the grocery store by Friday before Thanksgiving. If I need a few fresh ingredients, I will run in Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, but I try to avoid the crowds at all cost.
By using the printable Thanksgiving prep checklist you will remember to thaw your turkey on the correct day, prepare desserts in advance, and have all of your ingredients on hand avoiding last minute trips to the grocery store!
3. Decorating
Yes, we are that family who decorates for Christmas before Thanksgiving. There is just something so magical about eating Thanksgiving dinner with the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the background. It’s also one less thing that I have to worry about between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
By Thanksgiving I will have:
- our Christmas tree up and decorated
- our outdoor Christmas lights up
- our Christmas presents wrapped and (some) under the tree
- all other Christmas decor out
I realize that it is a little controversial to put up Christmas decor before Thanksgiving is even over. However, I love to enjoy my Christmas decor and don’t feel it necessary to buy separate Thanksgiving decor.
If you have separate Thanksgiving decor, you may want to schedule a time to get all of it out and in it’s proper place before Thanksgiving. (Or maybe you are like me and like the decorate for Christmas early! ;)) Just make sure to plan ahead and get it on the calendar.
Prepare for guests to come into your home for any big event can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. With just a little planning on your part, you can have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday too!
Rhonda M. says
I love your site, even though I’m retired now. We have lived on a boat for 10 years and didn’t have room for decorations. Good to hear I’m not the only one to decorate my table for Christmas. It was exciting to pull out my things that had been in storage . Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for your time.
Thank you for your sweet comment! I’m glad it was helpful to you.