How To Host a Holiday Feast Without Letting Anxiety Get the Best of You

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.

Photo by Chelsea Francis at Unsplash

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.

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.

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.

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.

Published by Dr Marschall

Dr. Amy Marschall received her Psy.D. from the University of Hartford in September 2015. She completed her internship at the National Psychology Training Consortium with specializations in assessment and rural mental health. Currently, she specializes in trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care, and she is certified in telemental health. Dr. Marschall runs a private practice, RMH Therapy, where she provides individual and family therapy as well as psychological assessments across the lifespan. Dr. Amy Marschall is an author and professional speaker.

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