Tips
for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving,
the unofficial start of the winter holiday season, is
meant to be a time for feasting, spending time with
loved ones, and reflecting on good fortune. But for
many people, Thanksgiving can also be incredibly stressful.
It comes loaded with expectations that can create an
enormous amount of pressure on any family – especially
on the moms, who are often in charge of the food and
the family organizing.
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This year,
don’t let Thanksgiving stress get you down. Following
are a few major sources of stress, and some ways to navigate
through it.
Stress about relatives:
Thanksgiving would be great if your in-laws would only
stop criticizing, or if your Uncle Fred would stop drinking
so much, or if your Aunt Gertrude would stop nagging
the kids, or if…You get the picture. No family
is perfect, and family gatherings are when everyone’s
unfortunate quirks come out. If you’re hosting,
you can keep some of the annoying relatives at bay by
keeping them busy. Give everyone a task, even if it
means sending Uncle Fred outside to collect more firewood.
If you’re visiting, volunteer to help with dinner
or dishes. Or find something that everyone can get excited
about, whether it’s a starting a touch football
game, rooting for your favorite team on TV, or taking
dibs on the wishbone. Resolve to let hurtful or critical
comments roll off your back. And remember, it’s
only one day.
Stress about the dinner:
Sure, you remember your grandmother’s Thanksgiving
dinners, where everything was delicious and made from
scratch. But you shouldn’t hold yourself up to
an impossible ideal of perfection. Ask everyone to contribute
to the meal, even if you need to use a little flattery
(“Cousin Edna, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving
without your special mincemeat pie!”). Use shortcuts
if you need to, buying some or all of the dishes prepared
or ready-to-serve from a restaurant or supermarket.
You can even (gasp!) use Thanksgiving-themed paper plates
instead of the good china if it will help get the whole
production off the ground. In the end, what people will
remember is the good time they had.
Stress about the kids:
Holidays are a notoriously tough time for kids and
their parents. Routines get thrown off, naps are missed,
and everyone eats more sugar than they should. It’s
enough to make everyone cranky. But you can help them
stay calm if you give them a purpose. Kids can set the
table, mash the potatoes, or arrange apples in the crust
to make a perfect pie. While they’re waiting for
food, you can give them a project like taking pictures
of everyone for a Thanksgiving photo album. And at dinner,
take a break from battling over food. Picky eaters can
usually find something bland to suit them (plain turkey,
potatoes, or rolls) before they move on to dessert.
Other stresses:
Of course there are plenty of other factors that can
create unpleasant emotions during Thanksgiving. Worried
about finances? Missing a loved one who has passed away
or who is serving in the armed forces? Struggling to
keep your weight down? For every reason you might have
to be stressed out, there are other people who are going
through something similar. Help yourself by reaching
out to a local or online support group. Take a walk
or a long, hot shower to clear your head. Get dressed
up in the clothes that make you feel good. And above
all, be easy on yourself. Thanksgiving can be a crazy,
stressful time – but if you recognize your own
stress triggers, find ways to mitigate stressful situations,
and keep a level head – you will find yourself
better equipped to enjoy the holiday.
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