Believe it or not, the holiday season is already nearly upon us. With Halloween well in the rearview mirror, Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. Turkeys need to be purchased. Guests need to be invited. Meals need to be sorted out. There is much to do and not long after all of that, the Christmas rush begins. It can be a lot.
Between Thanksgiving gatherings, family visits, shopping, decorating and everything else that generally comes with this time of year, it can be easy to be caught in a scramble to get everything done. Don’t let it all happen at the last minute. Now is the time to avoid the last-minute scramble. A little preparation ahead of Thanksgiving can go a long way.
Whether you’re hosting family and friends, traveling to someone else’s place, or simply looking to make your home feel a little more holiday ready, there are several things you can do now to get ahead of the rush. We’re going to go over five ways to start preparing for the season before Thanksgiving arrives. Let’s dive in.
1. Declutter Key Areas Of Your House Ahead Of Time
It may not be fun and there’s probably a reason it’s gotten out of hand in the first place, but tackling clutter in useful spaces now is one of the best ways to make the holiday season less stressful. Before bringing out holiday decorations and other seasonal items, take some time to clear out the clutter that’s already there.
This doesn’t necessarily mean tackling every closet or reorganizing your entire house. Let’s be reasonable here. But focusing on a few key areas – particularly ones that will be needed for Thanksgiving and/or Christmass – can make a major difference. The sooner the better here.
The key is to start with spaces that you’re going to use most during the holidays. This is most likely going to be the living room, dining room and kitchen for most folks. Clearing off unnecessary items or at least providing some order to the chaos can give you more room for decorations and make it easier to accommodate guests. This can also be a good opportunity to get rid of things that are no longer useful.
Donate clothing, discard those unwanted household items and find better storage solutions. The less clutter that has to be worked around, the better. Less mess, less stress.
2. Take Inventory Of Your Kitchen
The kitchen tends to become one of the busiest rooms in the house during the holiday season. Cooking Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner in addition to baking treats, not to mention hosting guests, means it’s going to be a hub for the holidays. Taking stock of what’s there and what isn’t can be extremely helpful.
Instead of waiting until you need something, take inventory of what you already have. Took a good look at the pantry, refrigerator and cabinets. What ingredients, cookware and other essentials do you have? What’s missing? Make note of anything that’s insufficient and fill in those gaps as soon as possible. The stores are only going to get busier as the big days draw near.
Don’t ignore things like spices, cooking oils, storage containers, etc. These are very easy to forget about until it’s too late. Nobody wants to send dad looking for aluminum foil on the day before Thanksgiving. It also can’t hurt to make sure that plates, glasses, utensils and serving dishes are all plentiful, assuming you’re having company over.
Getting this all done now can help build out that big holiday shopping list. Groceries aren’t cheap. Avoiding redundancies can be a huge help.
3. Deep Clean Your Kitchen And Home Before It Sneaks Up On You
Instead of leaving everything until the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas, start cleaning your house now. Particularly the kitchen and any high-traffic areas. This is one of the things people tend to put off but doing it early is a life saver. Future you will thank the current you.
The kitchen is probably the best place to start. Is your oven overdue for a cleaning? Are your cabinets and pantry organized? Do you need to clean out the refrigerator? These are things that can easily get pushed aside during the rest of the year when daily life gets in the way. But having a clean and functional kitchen when holiday cooking gets underway is essential and can alleviate a lot of stress.
Work through other areas of your home bit by bit. This doesn’t all have to happen at once. Dust ceiling fans, clean windows, vacuum underneath furniture, wash guest linens, and take care of any other chores that don’t need to be repeated every week. For those who tend to procrastinate, breaking larger projects into smaller tasks over a larger period of time can make the process much more manageable. That’s why doing it now is important. Don’t wait.
4. Get The Guest Rooms In Your Home Ready For Company
If you’re expecting friends or family during the holidays, don’t wait until they’re way to start prepping the rooms they’re going to be in. A little early planning in this department can make guests feel more comfortable. It also saves you from scrambling to find clean sheets and extra pillows once they’re already there.
Guest rooms and second bathrooms are what we want to focus on here. Wash the bedding, vacuum the floors and make sure there’s ample space for people to put their stuff. Nothing too crazy. These rooms can become storage areas when they’re not in use. Now is as good a time as any to get those spaces back in working order.
Fresh towels, extra blankets, phone chargers, a place to hang clothes. These are all things that will likely be needed when company is coming. For those who don’t have a dedicated guest room, how can you make another space? Do you have an air mattress? Is there another area of the house that can function temporarily? These are things worth thinking about now.
5. Think About What Went Right (And What Went Wrong) Last Year
Last, but certainly not least, it’s time for some self-reflection.
One of the easiest ways to make this holiday season more enjoyable and stress free is to learn from the past. Think back to last year’s Thanksgiving. Think back on those Christmas celebrations. What worked well? What didn’t work so well? What things would you have done differently, provided the chance? That’s what’s really worth focusing on.
Minor inconveniences, taken one at a time, might not seem like a lot but, added together, they can be taxing. With some advance preparation, it’s relatively easy to prevent these problems from happening in the first place. Maybe make a short list of things to do differently this year. From simplifying your menu to coordinating responsibilities with family members, there are many little things that can make a huge difference.
It’s also worth remembering what worked well. What brought you the most joy during last year’s festivities? If a particular holiday tradition, dish, or activity worked out, make sure to do it again. The holidays shouldn’t feel like some taxing, perfectly organized project. It’s about enjoying the people, traditions and experiences that make this season special. A little advance planning can help you lean into that.
