Thank you again to Julie Morris, writer and coach, for sharing some tips for hosting and cooking for the holidays! Although there are positives to families coming together, Julie helps anyone dealing with anxiety related to hosting.
There are people who look forward to hosting holiday parties with joyful anticipation – and then there are those who dread it. If having everyone home for the holidays makes you anxious, Resiliency Mental Health has the following suggestions to help you combat the stress.
Ask in advance about dietary restrictions. While you can’t always accommodate everyone, having an option or two for guests with limited diets will be appreciated. Look for options that can cater to multiple people, such as recipes that are both dairy- and gluten-free.
- Don’t Forget Those Kosher Appetizers and Starter Recipes
- Here are 50 Gluten-Free Holiday Side Dishes for Friends With Gluten Allergies
Consider hosting a potluck. Not only is this a great way to relieve you of some stress, inviting everyone to bring a dish to share is a great way to help people mingle. Let everyone decide what to bring, or offer a list of suggestions and let people pick so there won’t be duplicate dishes.
- Need Some Potluck Inspiration? Here are 40 Crowd-Pleasing Potluck Recipes
- Holiday Buffet Serving Tips and Display Ideas to Help Make that Buffet a Success
- Don’t Forget These 3 Rules You Should Know About Holiday Potluck Etiquette
If you find yourself getting too overwhelmed, take a break and relax. Whether it’s keeping up your exercise routine or taking five minutes to sit and focus on your breathing, taking a break can help keep your stress under control, so take time to practice self-care whenever you need it.
- Give Yourself the Gift of Sanity With 5 Holiday Hacks to Tackle Stress and Anxiety This Christmas
- Rely on Some High Quality Headphones to Help You Disconnect and Get Motivated
- Last But Not Least, Here’s a 5-Minute Yoga Sequence for Stress Relief
Hosting a holiday party is a lot of work, and if you’re not careful, the experience can trigger anxiety. With the right planning and plenty of self-care, however, you can enjoy every piece of the party-planning process.
Dr. Amy Marschall of Resiliency Mental Health is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Telemental Health.