Ready or not, here come the holidays! Though it is a joyous season of love, warmth and giving, it can also bring extreme stress and anxiety.
Even for some of the most organized people in this universe, the holidays can get overwhelming. Luckily, us event planners have dealt with these situations a time or 2. Here are some tips from our founder and Senior Managing Partner Emily Chalk. Here’s to having a stress-free holiday!
Plan ahead
Take advantage of that half day of work the day before the feast and get a plan in place. I try to take the full day off before a big holiday or a personal event just to give myself time to focus. One of the biggest causes of stress is when you feel you are getting pulled in multiple directions. Take the time for yourself and for your sanity to sit down and organize.
Write EVERYTHING down:
One of my favorite planner moves is to make lists with checkboxes. It keeps you focused and you have a sense of accomplishment when you complete a task. You can also use post it notes – but if you are me your whole house will be covered in them, which is a little counter-productive.
The Devil is in the Details
As the old saying goes – but my, my, is it true. Organize all the details you can in advance – fold napkins, place your centerpiece on the table or vacuum the spare room two days before guests arrive. It’s all this last minute stuff that will get you every time. It’s never too early to start setting up!
Take a minute and think
Be thoughtful in your decisions to avoid extra work on your holiday. Simple check points like not using your expensive China on the kids table will keep you from a big headache when you are in the middle of your day-of holiday tasks.
Give yourself some credit
At the end of the day, your family and friends will appreciate the wonderful effort you put into creating a great thanksgiving. Life is not a perfect reflection of Pinterest, and do you really think Martha Stewart pulls of what she does by herself? Do the best you can, and if your day is filled with love and warm food, you did your job, host!
From all of us at EOE we wish you a very happy holiday and a wonderful Thanksgiving. Need a Thanksgiving day planner? Give us a call – JUST KIDDING (we have to draw the line somewhere).
For more tips and inspiration to keep your Turkey Day organized (any stylish) check out our Pinterest board.