Still Confessing Co.

Tips to embrace the mundane tasks of cleaning, organizing, and meal prepping ahead of holiday hosting.

So, you’re hosting a holiday dinner.

Hosting a holiday dinner can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. The tasks ahead: cleaning, grocery shopping, and making sure you have enough napkins, can all seem endless. But what if you could transform that prep into something a bit more magical? With a few simple tricks for romanticizing hosting prep, what could be a stressful time can actually become fun, intentional, and even enjoyable.

Engage Your Senses

One of the easiest ways (and also my favorite way) to make hosting holiday dinners a little bit better is to engage other senses. Don’t sit in silence with glaring overhead lights while prepping your grocery lists, menus, and to-do lists, make it more relaxing. Instead, play somze cozy Christmas music, or light your favorite holiday-scented candle. For me, I love to throw on a cheesy Hallmark movie while I prep! Creating a more relaxing, cozy atmosphere helps me feel less anxious about all the tasks ahead. It’s a simple, free way that helps with romanticizing the hosting prep.

Shift Your Mindset

Another way to reduce that pre-hosting stress is to change your mindset. Specifically, by practicing gratitude (fitting for Thanksgiving dinner especially). For instance, instead of focusing on how hard it will be to make dinner for 15 people, think about how grateful you are to have so many loved ones around the table. Consider how lucky you are to have this time to relax, eat delicious food, and spend time with those who mean the most to you. A small shift like this can help even the most tedious or time-consuming tasks seem a bit more worth it.

Top 5 Hosting Tips

1. Get Organized Early: Print your recipes and create your grocery list a week ahead. Then, break down other tasks (shopping, cleaning, decorating) into smaller chunks assigned to each day leading up to the big dinner.
   
2. Ask for Help: It’s impossible to do it all alone, and you shouldn’t have to! Let family pitch in, whether it’s with shopping, cleaning, or cooking.
   
3. Schedule Prep Time: Block off a set time each day for your to-do list. Knowing when you’ll tackle each task makes it feel more manageable.
   
4. Set Realistic Expectations: Focus on hospitality, not perfection. Your guests are coming to see you, not a flawless home or perfect meal.
   
5. Prioritize Self-Care: Take moments for yourself—whether it’s spending a few minutes practicing some breath work, or a mini spa day the day before, be sure to take care of yourself, not just your home.

Bonus Tip: Find recipes that can be made ahead, like pies or casseroles. The less you have to do on the big day, the better! Some even taste better the next day.

Hosting is about gathering loved ones and enjoying time together, not running yourself ragged. So this season, try romanticizing the hosting prep and savor the holiday magic. With all that’s going on in the world, isn’t this what it’s really all about?

I hope you enjoy your holiday season!

Share with me in the comments – How do you reduce stress when hosting?