Stress-Free Holiday Hosting

Enjoying the Holidays Starts Before the Holidays

If you’ve ever hosted Thanksgiving and felt like you spent the entire day sprinting from oven to table to sink to oven again…Hi, hello, welcome. You are not alone.

But here’s the truth we don’t say enough: You actually can enjoy the holidays this year. Like, genuinely enjoy them—with music playing, candles glowing, conversations flowing, and your shoulders not up by your ears in tension.

And it starts with a little preparation mixed with a tiny bit of strategy. (Yes, organization is more than decluttering closets and color-coding pantries—it’s about creating space for what matters most: relationships.)

Here are a few tips from a professional organizer who LOVES to host!

Map It Out Before You Need It

One of my favorite hosting hacks is what I lovingly call “the holiday map.”

Two days before Thanksgiving, set your table. Go ahead—plates, napkins, silverware, the whole thing. Then pull out every serving dish you’ll need and give each one a job:

• Post-it notes on each dish or

• Roll out brown packing paper on the counter, tape it down, and write each dish directly on it with a Sharpie just below where the serving dish sits. (Instant serving map + bonus points for the Pinterest cuteness -- and hello simple -- just my style!)

  
  

This one step eliminates the frantic “Wait—what were the Brussels sprouts going in?!” moment. It frees your brain, reduces decision fatigue, and gives you a sense of calm heading into the big day.

And Guess What? You Don’t Even Have to Cook! (Gasp!)

Let me say this lovingly: Outsourcing is not cheating.

If Whole Foods (or your favorite market) wants to hand you a beautifully cooked turkey and sides… let them. Truly. Order ahead, warm it up, and spend your energy where it matters—connecting with people you love. Also, asking your guests to each bring one of their favorite dishes to cook can make them feel apart, and it reduces the load on you!

Make Space for the Good Stuff

Because when you prep ahead—when you “map out” your space and your plan—you create margin.

Margin for meaning.

Margin for laughter.

Margin for slow moments that become core memories.

Hosting doesn’t have to feel chaotic. With a little intention, it can feel intimate, cozy, and downright enjoyable.

This holiday season, choose strategy over stress. Choose connection over chaos. And choose the version of hosting that lets you be fully present at your own table.

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!