The holiday season is a time of year that brings joy, warmth, and the excitement of gathering with all your loved ones. If you are someone who is going to be hosting a holiday this year, you might be feeling a bit stressed and overwhelmed with all the responsibility that comes along with it.
While hosting a holiday requires a lot of work and preparation, you want to make sure that you are also taking time to enjoy the holiday yourself! With a few hosting hacks, you can create a welcoming and festive atmosphere for your family and friends to ensure a memorable celebration for everyone.
Here are 7 stress-free hacks for effortlessly hosting during the holidays:
1 – Create a plan.
Before you begin implementing anything, create a detailed plan. Make lists for what you will need when you go out shopping, including food and drinks, and assess what needs to be cleaned and any other tasks that need to be accomplished before your event.
Creating a plan will help you to stay organized and ensure that nothing is overlooked. A check list will become your best friend!
2 – Do not over complicate the menu.
While elaborate dishes may be tempting and you may be inspired to try a bunch of new dishes, consider simplifying your menu as best as you can. Opt for dishes, especially side dishes, that can be prepared in advance, use fewer ingredients, or incorporate make-ahead recipes. Also, do not be afraid to ask guests to bring a dish to share, so the menu is collaborative.
3 – Prepare what you can in advance.
In addition to some of the menu items, there are other ways that you can prepare for the holiday ahead of time. You can prepare everything from chopped vegetables and marinated meats to setting the table and finalizing décor.
Completing these tasks ahead of time will help to keep you as stress-free as possible as you will avoid last-minute chaos, ultimately giving you more time to relax and engage with your guests.
4 – Set up a self-serve station.
To help encourage guests to help themselves when it comes to food and drink, set up a self-serve station for beverages, snacks, and appetizers. On these stations, include easy-to-grab items, small plates, silverware, and glasses, so that guests are comfortable grabbing food and drinks as they please throughout the party.
5 – Consider disposable tableware.
If you are someone who does not have special tableware that you like to pull out for the holidays, consider helping to simplify your cleanup by using disposable plates, cups, and cutlery. There are tons of cute and festive tableware options that are disposable, and this will greatly help to minimize post-party stress and the cleanup.
6 – Designate an area for kids activities.
If you have children attending your event, set up a designated area for them to hang out and play with items such as board games, coloring books, or any other fun toys that they got during the holidays. This will help to keep kids entertained throughout the day while their parents can sit back and relax.
7 – Enjoy your time!
With all the hard work and planning that goes into hosting a holiday, make sure you take a step back and take some time to practice gratitude and truly enjoy your day. Remember that the most important part of hosting is creating an enjoyable atmosphere for your guests, so do not stress over any minor mishaps that may occur and make the best of the day with all your loved ones!