![]() Time for us to call it a night!” “I wish we could stay longer, but we have to get up early!” “Our dog is missing us we’ve got to head out! Thanks so much1” Make a list of things to be grateful for…in advance Here are a few you can try: “It’s been so lovely to see everyone, but we’re just exhausted. If you’ll be the guest, agree on a “safe word” or phrase with your partner, kids or +1 so that you have a secret signal with each other when it’s time to get out of there! You don’t want to hurt any feelings, but you know you’ve got your our own upper limit on how much time you can spend with others before you’re just DONE.Īnd if the time you need to leave is far earlier than it might be considered customary to leave, then plan a short script in advance. Agree on a “safe word” and a “let’s get out of here” script Your guests will be so surprised at how relaxed you look when they arrive. Got family staying with you? Make the beds and set out the towels up to a week in advance. This will significantly reduce the time you spend in the kitchen the day of your celebration and make the whole operation run more smoothly. Spend a few hours in the days ahead of your gathering prepping and chopping all of your veg and measuring out all of your dry goods for breads and pie crusts. Take it a step farther and put reminders in your phone, or your Alexa/Google Home (i.e. Prepare a timeline, post it somewhere visible and refer to it often so that you’re not scrambling. Working backwards from meal time, figure out when you need to start cooking or preparing each of your dishes. That delivery person deserves to be well compensated for their labor.) Make a timeline ![]() (And make sure to give a big fat tip if you can. So, once you’ve got a comprehensive list, make that order… and then make yourself a cocktail while you wait for your groceries in the comfort of your own home. But I’m staring at the world’s largest jar of pickles in my fridge nonetheless. Personally, I’d never used Instacart pre-pandemic because I didn’t want to pay that up-charge.Ģ years later? Well, let’s just day I haven’t been to Costco in a LONG time. Over the past few years, many of us have embraced delivery in a way we never would have before. Check your fridge and cabinets to see what you’ve already got. Choose your recipes, and write down the ingredient lists. So wear a mask, test before you leave, and bow out if you’re feeling sick. But do you really want to be the one that brings COVID to the party? One of the best ways to reduce stress around the holidays this year is to make sure you’re being as safe as possible when traveling. Yes, I know that masks are no longer required on airplanes. ![]() ![]() ![]() To that end, here are a few things you can do this year to set yourself up for success, and ensure that your in-person celebrations bridge that gap between fun and safe. The better you plan, the more relaxed you’ll be, no matter the situation. So we’ve got to keep adjusting.īut, even though it’s bound to be stressful, you have a little more agency than you think. And we’re marching ahead into this next phase of the pandemic, which I call “cautiously living our lives”. And at the same time, you’re trying to make sure your cousin’s new baby doesn’t end up with COVID when all you were trying to do is make sure everyone has a great time. So, yes, you’re about to face yet another year of listening to your curmudgeonly uncle drone on (and on) while running around the house trying to ensure that everyone gets enough appetizers in their bellies before the wine really starts flowing. And COVID is still here even though we wish it weren’t, making safe gathering even more complicated. The stresses that accompany big holiday gatherings are myriad. Around this time every year, I post something about how to reduce holiday stress through a little up front planning. ![]()
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