Thanksgiving can be a great time to show gratitude, connect with family, and be thankful.
Unfortunately, it’s also about feeling like we have to spend time with the people we’re “supposed” to, eating too much and feeling bad about it, and acting grateful when we’re really annoyed and stressed out.
What if this Thanksgiving could be less stressful and more fun? What if we could truly enjoy ourselves, understand and respect our family and friends, and really think about what we’re thankful for? Here are some important things you can do to make sure you really enjoy and remember Thanksgiving this year (in a good way).
Be Yourself
The best thing you can do at Thanksgiving is to relax and just be yourself while you’re with your loved ones, in-laws, or visitors instead of pretending to be someone else.
Often, we put undue stress on ourselves by trying to conform to other people’s expectations of who we should be or what we should say, even when those people are close friends or family. Let go of trying to please others and you will find true freedom and happiness within yourself.
This also means that we should consider what would be enjoyable for ourselves and our immediate family on Thanksgiving, and let everyone else (in-laws, extended family, etc.) know.
It’s true that you tell your in-laws that you want to spend Thanksgiving at home with your immediate family could cause disappointment, and it’s true that your friends might keep asking you to go out with them when you want to do something else, but stick to your own ideas – you’ll be much happier that way.
Make it Fun and Easy
You should do everything in your power to make the Thanksgiving holiday enjoyable and stress-free for you and those you’ll be spending it with.
Rather than putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves and viewing ourselves as victims, we keep things light, divide and conquer, request help, and engage in activities that bring us joy.
Being stressed, doing things you don’t want to do, harboring resentment, and being generally frustrated by life are all ways in which we waste our time and energy. If we’re able to relax and take it easy, Thanksgiving could be a wonderful holiday for everyone.
The best place to start is by planning things out. Know who is coming, what food you need, which dishes you’re making, and how you want to decorate. That way, you can buy everything you need, including stylish Thanksgiving decorations, in advance.
Plus, you can delegate various roles and ensure everything runs smoothly. Remember to choose dishes that can be made in advance or ask everyone to bring a side with them – it’s fun and helpful when it comes to making things easy for you.
Actually, Be Thankful
Don’t forget that despite all the noise, stress, and activity of the holidays, Thanksgiving is really a time for us to think about what we’re thankful for in life, in others, and especially in ourselves. Take some time on Thanksgiving to think about what you’re thankful for, how lucky you are, and what you like about yourself.
A great way to remember and be thankful for all the good things in our lives, especially on Thanksgiving, is to give everyone at the table some time during the meal to talk about what they’re thankful for in a genuine, specific, and personal way.
