How To Simplify Your Thanksgiving Holiday
Let’s face it, the holidays can be stressful! As much as we love getting together with family and friends, there is so much to do. Here are some easy ways to simplify your Thanksgiving holiday so that you can enjoy your time together without stressing about the details.
1. Make Lists
Make multiple lists. Lists are so helpful for planning almost everything in life. The act of writing things down, spurs us on to action. Make lists for everything:
- guests
- menu – including appetizers, side dishes, desserts and drinks
- decorations
- activities for kids
- people who will help with tasks such as meal prep, decorating or clean up
2. Shop and Cook Now
This may seem like a no-brainer, but have you ever been in a grocery store the day before Thanksgiving? Yeah, me too. It’s not a pretty place. Purchasing all of your groceries at least two weeks ahead of time is one great way to simplify your day when Thanksgiving does arrive. Begin preparing side dishes and desserts now. Many side dishes and desserts can be prepped and frozen until the day of Thanksgiving.
3. Use Your Instant Pot
If you’re like me, and don’t absolutely love being in the kitchen, use your Instant Pot to help you! Here is a post about how you can cook your entire Thanksgiving meal in the Instant Pot. Read at https://ourhappymedium.com/meal-planning/thanksgiving-instant-pot/ Why not? It saves time and eases stress! You can make all kinds of delicious desserts in the Instant Pot, too! My Instant Pot simplifies my life.
4. Purchase Ready-Made Meals
There is no shame in purchasing ready-to-go meals. Our local grocery chain has delicious meals for the holidays. All you need to do is preorder, pick up and warm! Last year my sister-in-law ordered her Christmas meal online from Martha Stewart. I’m not sure whether it was a warm-and-eat or cook-and-eat meal, but in either case, no prep work was required.
5. Activities for the Kids
Assign one younger family member to organize activities for the kids. Our family loves playing football every Thanksgiving. Fortunately, we all live in areas where we can play outside in November. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without it!
If you live in a winter climate, there are lots of other fun activities to do with the kids that can be done indoors. I knew a family who had the kids open a piñata every Thanksgiving! Of course, movie marathons are great, too. And let’s not forget about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: another staple in our holiday celebration.
6. No Politics
When you download our FREE Thanksgiving Planner you will see a printable page at the end that says “PLEASE! NO POLITICS!” Hang this on your front door so that every guest sees it. A simplified holiday begins with friendly conversation.
Terri L. Hedrick, M.S. is a Catholic homeschool mom to two teens. She works for a private company as an online instructor to hospital-homebound students, and runs her own business as a homeschool consultant and curriculum creator at Our Happy Medium Academy. She blogs about homeschooling and homesteading at Our Happy Medium. When she’s not working, you can find her in her garden, up on top of her horse or tending to her bees!
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Hi my name is Laurie. I am so glad you are here! I am a Christian homeschooling mom of 3, caregiver to my Veteran husband, mom to a son with Autism, community volunteer, travel loving, and blogger. As you might notice, I do not live the “expected life”. Come join my family and other families as we experience Living The Unexpected Life.
