How to have a stress free Thanksgiving

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By Fire Dancer
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have a stress free Thanksgiving

When it comes to the holidays, Thanksgiving in particular, do you feel stress building up as the days creep closer? Fret not, for there are ways to have a stress free Thanksgiving!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

First determine where the stress is coming from and focus on it entirely for a moment. Stress may come from family members, holding the dinner at your house, food preparation, or keeping a bunch of people satisfied over the holiday. Pinpoint your stress source and begin to think about your options.
Step 2

Does having Thanksgiving at your house really stress you out? If so, give the responsibility to another family member this year. It takes a lot of work getting things ready in your dwelling for such a feast. There is the cleaning, food preparation, and constant worry of others in your home. It's okay to change things up, as well as location. Take a break this year and let someone else have to deal with the worry and the clean up!
Step 3

Family members getting you down? Family issues can burrow deep and cause quite a bit of despair. However, know that you have the absolute power to push everything to the side for this one holiday and find your own smile. If others see your positive attitude, they too might feel the need to also push problems aside. If not, it is their own loss of a perfectly fine holiday. Push the grudges out and welcome the wonderful spirit of the holiday instead.
Step 4

Ask for help from others. It takes a lot of work to set up for Thanksgiving and takes even more work cooking for such an occasion. Do not expect to get through the day all by yourself. Get the family involved, especially the little ones, and let them help you set up, clean up, and cook. Ask others who come to bring a dish to share.
Step 5

Don't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving this year and dislike the idea of spending it alone? Volunteer! Spending Thanksgiving alone can be stressful in itself. Don't let yourself be alone! Find good in helping the community out. You can volunteer at local churches or shelters. You'll feel great in the end!
Step 6

If all else fails, sit back and reflect over the true meaning of Thanksgiving. It is a time to be thankful and to know why you are thankful. Think of all the things in life that make you happy and notice how quickly your stress flees.

Comments

GreenGardenChic said

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on 11/13/2008 Great eye-opening suggestions for a relaxing Thanksgiving.

on 11/13/2008 Lastly, don't do anything you really dislike doing. Sometimes we feel like we HAVE to do holidays a certain way year after year. I say break out of that way of thinking, be creative and try something new! Thanks for your tips!