Since we can’t actually create more time in our days. It’s important to find ways to save time. This is especially true for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. In this post, I’m going to be sharing time management tips for Thanksgiving.
These time management tips for Thanksgiving I think are quite simple to do and don’t take time to implement. They are just simple things that you can keep in your mind to take advantage of so you can have a stress-free Thanksgiving.
Before I get started, if you haven’t grabbed your free Hosting A Stress-Free Thanksgiving Workbook yet, please click the button below to download your free copy.
Time management tips for Thanksgiving
Create a plan and timeline
I like to create a 4-week timeline or plan for Thanksgiving. This gives me enough time to pull out decorations, plan the menu, invite guests, and more. Since we are 2 weeks away it is even more important that a plan is created.
You’ll want to sit down and plan out:
- Menu
- Guest list
- Shopping list
- Budget
- When you need to purchase everything for your Thanksgiving feast
This will help you save time and stay organized.
Ask for helpers
No one says you have to host Thanksgiving alone. Everyone is partaking in the eating, why not ask for help?
When people, ask what can I do to help? Ask them to come early and help mash potatoes, or help set the table. If you get 3-4 people to help set everything up, you’ll be less stressed and more able to enjoy Thanksgiving.
Ask for people to bring a dish
You might be hosting but that doesn’t mean you have to cook everything. When you are inviting people, assign dishes to them. If they are known for a certain dish, have them bring that, or you can have people bring wine, cider, or rolls.
By asking people to bring a dish, you’ll be sticking to your budget, and saving time in the kitchen preparing yet another dish.
Set aside time each day to plan and organize
When you create your timeline it is important to see where you stand. Setting the timeline is just one step to staying organized. It is important to follow through with your timeline.
What I like to do is each evening when I’m preparing my to-do list for the day, I like to take a look at my timeline and then pick an item or two (depending on the time) that is set for the week that I’m in and add that/those task(s) to my to-do list.
You’ll be surprised by how helpful this will be to you the closer you get to the big day.
Create a minimal menu
Think about how much food is served during Thanksgiving. There’s no way we can eat all of that food. By creating a minimal menu you can save yourself time and money with the menu.
Try omitting the appetizers or just having a simple veggie tray for people to snack on. Instead of making 4-6 sides try 2-3. Instead of making (or buying) 3 desserts maybe only have 1 or possibly 2.
All of these are really going to help with the overwhelm and stress that you’ll be feeling leading up to and on Thanksgiving day.
Create a deep cleaning schedule that is spread out
I don’t know about you, but I hate doing a full house deep cleaning marathon. It takes forever and I burn myself out.
What I like to do is spread out the cleaning over a week so I can handle all of the deep cleaning.
A simple way of figuring this out is to write down all of the things that need to be cleaned then set up a deep cleaning to do list, assign a few tasks each day. Your home will be nice and clean before you know it.
Implement a 20-minute speed cleaning routine to maintain the clean
Since the deep cleaning will be done before Thanksgiving and if your home is anything like mine, you’ll need to maintain the clean.
What I like to do is do a daily speed cleaning session. In this session, I go through all of the common areas of the home and do a quick pick up of those rooms. Pick up clutter, remove little fingerprints from coffee tables and counters, and just clean up anything that needs to be done.
Just remember that this is a speed cleaning session so do things as quick as possible.
Wake up a little earlier to start before the kids are up
I don’t know about you but I can always get more done around the house when the kids and hubby are still in bed. I like to wake up a little early so I can enjoy my morning caffeine and then get some things done before my attention is elsewhere.
Wake up 30-60 minutes before the family. Enjoy about 5-10 minutes of quiet uninterrupted “me” time and then get some tasks completed that need your attention. You’ll be amazed by how much you’ll be able to accomplish.
Prepare some foods early
You don’t have to do all of the cooking the day of. Things like pies, cranberry sauce, and salad can be made early. You can also chop veggies for the stuffing early, prepare appetizer trays, and peel potatoes.
Think about what you can do early to help save time on Thanksgiving day.
Night before prepping
If you are not prepping for the following day you are missing out. You can set aside about 20-30 minutes the night before to prep for the next day.
Think about everything that needs to be done the next day. What are things you can do the night before to help your day run a little smoother?
This doesn’t just have to be something you do the night before Thanksgiving. This can be something you do every night.
Things you can do are:
- Prep the coffee
- Do the dishes
- Speed clean the house
- Set the table
- Prep breakfast
Those are just a few examples, be creative and trust that doing this will help you out in the long run.
Automate as much as you can
I love automating as many things as I possibly can. Setting up a to-do list on autopilot, shopping list, and certain chores will save you so much time.
You can have your Thanksgiving shopping done for you. Fred Myer and other stores are offering grocery pick up. You order online and pick it up. Think about how much time you are going to save.
Think outside the box to start automating your life so you can start saving time today.
Create a detailed menu and shopping plan – fewer trips to the store
If you have to go to the grocery store more than once you’re wasting time. Make sure that your shopping list is detailed so you’re not forgetting anything.
You’ll want to check your kitchen, pantry, fridge, and freezer to make sure you have every ingredient.
Go shopping during “off” times
Try going to the store during their non-peak times. By going in the morning during the week will save you time. Lines are smaller, the store is stocked, and there are fewer people in the store allowing you to have the store, almost, to yourself.
Avoid time wasters
Sitting on your phone and watching YouTube or scrolling through Facebook might be fun but those things can be giant time wasters.
When you have a mile long to-do list, you’ll want to make sure that you’re being as productive and efficient as possible.
Sure we need downtime so try to limit your downtime. Set a timer on your phone when you sit down for your break so you don’t lose track of time.
You can download the free Stress-Free Thanksgiving Workbook below.
Inside the workbook you’ll get:
- Stress-Free Thanksgiving checklist
- 4-week Thanksgiving timeline worksheet
- Guest list worksheet
- Thanksgiving helpers worksheet
- Who’s bringing what worksheet
- Thanksgiving menu worksheet
- Master shopping list
In this post, I shared time management tips for Thanksgiving that will save you time. These are tips that I use every year to help me save time and stay organized. I hope these tips have helped you and inspired you to host a stress-free Thanksgiving this year.
Thank you so much for stopping by. Below are a few other posts that I thought you might like.
Jenn
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