6 Ways to Prepare for Holiday Hosting
The holiday season is one of the most special times of the year. It’s that time of year where connection, joy and purpose fill up our hearts as we’re reunited with loved ones from near and far. For some, it can also be the most stressful. As we all strive to create beautiful memories, sometimes, being present gets lost in the pressure to ensure everyone else is having a good time. If you’re the one hosting the holidays, this can be especially true. But it doesn’t have to be!
As the host, one of the greatest things you can do to truly enjoy yourself at the event is to organize your plan and prepare in advance as much as possible. Being prepared in advance means smooth sailing in execution, so you have the time to truly be present for the good times. To minimize stress for yourself in the moment, here are some of our best tips to get organized and maximize the joy of event-hosting:
1 make Lists
Allowing thoughts to continuously swirl around in your head can create unnecessary stress. Putting pen to paper can work wonders for your sanity, getting these responsibilities out of your mind and onto something tangible that you can reference whenever needed.
2 Manage your time efficiently
Do your future self a favor and segment out your schedule wisely and on time (or even in advance if you can!) When you plan in advance, it makes it possible to get everything done in a relaxing manner, so that you don’t feel rushed, and can minimize chances of stress/anxiety. Start earlier than you think you should, and you will be thanking yourself later!
3 Set up your space
By decluttering your surroundings, you can clear your mind. Think of your habits and what will keep troubling thoughts and potential stressors at bay. Additionally, if you prep the actual set up—table settings, decor, speakers, and all—in advance, your focus day-of can shift onto more important tasks.
4 Freeze and reheat
Cook all the food that you can in advance! Cooking is one of the biggest undertakings during the holidays, and it can be very time consuming when done at once. One of the most efficient ways to ensure your time with loved ones isn’t taken over is to cook what you can in advance and freeze so they are ready to go day-of.
5 Include Appetizers
Avoid hungry tummies and keep guests happy with food out and ready to go upon arrival. Always overestimate how much food/beverages you will need. It’s always better to have too much than not enough! Remember, food brings people together, and that guests will gather wherever the food is placed, so situate the appetizers and drink stations according to where you want your guests to be!
6 make it a potluck
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of food to cook, turn your event into a potluck, where each guest brings a food item to share. You can never have too many hands on deck!
As you gear up to host the holidays this year, ground yourself in the idea that nothing will ever be perfect. At its core, the holidays are about so much more than creating a picture-perfect setup, gourmet food, and Pinterest-worthy decor. The things that people are going to remember are the conversations they had and the people they spent it with. And the people in your life will be most happy to experience the connection, joy, and love that comes with the holidays, no matter how the setup. Happy Holidays!