A Relaxed and Happy Thanksgiving: Your Countdown to a Worry-Free Feast

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? It is 15 days from today. My past self would be working up until the day before Thanksgiving, so I always felt so rushed to get everything done, especially if we are hosting. This year, I am working, part-time and from home, so I am planning to be more organized and methodical about the planning and preparation for Thanksgiving. My goal is to be more relaxed so I can enjoy my friends and family who gather. In this post, I’ll share my tips and tricks for being more organized and prepared so you too can gather with your loved ones in a relaxed, calm state.

The Thanksgiving Timeline: 15 Days to Go

Day 1 (today): If you haven’t started planning, let’s get going! Today, write out your guest list. If there are people you haven’t yet invited, but are planning to, today’s the day to invite them!

Day 2: Plan your menu, including asking those who are coming to bring something.

Day 3: Check the recipes for the items you are making and check ingredients to see what you already have on hand before adding it to your grocery list

Day 4: Check your appliances/dishes that you will be using to prepare and serve your meal. Order items that are broken or need to be replaced. My roasting pan has seen better days, so here’s the one I’m purchasing.

Day 5: Get out your tablecloths and napkins and wash them so they are fresh and ready to go. Purchase any other table decorations you need. Here’s a cute set of paper plates and napkins and here’s a cute salt and pepper shaker set.

The Thanksgiving Timeline: 1 Week to Go

I’m going to give you a Thanksgiving Week Schedule to fill in so you can plan out your week. Make sure to not overbook yourself on one day….spread out the tasks you need to get done.

I recommend getting to the grocery shopping earlier and make sure to check your grocery store’s ads to save on ingredients you will need. Gradually tackle different aspects of your Thanksgiving preparations to avoid last-minute stress. Do some of the cleaning a day or two before, then you will just have to tidy up a bit.

Thanksgiving Eve

I’ll be making side dishes ahead of time, probably Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday will be spent getting the table set and cleaning. Make sure you have a detailed to-do list that you make up now so you don’t forget anything. We are having my aunt and uncle stay at our home this year, so I’ll be getting the guest room and bathroom ready for them, and that needs to be on my schedule for Thanksgiving week. Anything you can do ahead of time….do it! That will help so much with your stress levels on Thanksgiving Day!

Get My Thanksgiving Planner!

I’ve taken my plan for Thanksgiving preparation and made it a pdf download for you to use. It includes a menu planning sheet, grocery list, to-do list, and a Thanksgiving week schedule that can help make Thanksgiving prep more manageable.

Click here to get my FREE Thanksgiving Planner!

Stay tuned, next week I’ll cover having healthier options for some of our favorite Thanksgiving dishes, including ideas for handling dietary restrictions of your guests, how to manage leftovers, and ideas for how to incorporate gratitude into your Thanksgiving dinner, without making it weird or awkward.

Let me know in the comments what you do to make your Thanksgiving stress-free and well-planned!

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