Take the Stress Out of Holiday Planning With These 7 Tricks

We know you always want to do it all, but there's no shame in ordering a few special items from your favorite restaurants or grocers. Just make sure to put your orders in early! From delicious pies to a full bird, it might be wise to take some of the stress out of cooking the more complicated things.

To avoid spending an entire day cooking (if spending all day in the kitchen isn't your vibe), try and prep some elements of your meal before the actual day arrives. Plenty of things like sauces, roasted veggies, and diced garnishes can be done ahead of time so that all you need to do is assemble before your meal.

Don't let your time in the kitchen turn into one big frazzled mess. Instead, choose recipes that are a little easier and you can do together. Make icing cookies a family affair, or get everyone involved in helping to slice veggies. Cooking should be fun, after all.

The set-it-and-forget-it method of low and slow cooking is always a win for holiday meals. Just throw your ingredients in your slow cooker, crock pot, or Dutch oven in the morning, and let it go to work until you're ready to plate in the evening. Things like Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings, Slow Cooker Savory Pot Roast, or Slow Cooker Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are all perfect holiday options.

This holiday season is pretty nontraditional, so why should you feel constrained by certain typical holiday rules? If you want to break out that pasta maker you got last Christmas and serve your favorite noodle recipe, more power to ya. (Might we suggest one of these two yummy options: One-Pot Carbonara or Creamy Pesto Chicken & Bow Ties.) If you're feelin' Sloppy Joes or breakfast for dinner or — what the heck! — Swedish Meatballs, you do you!

When it comes to your home decor and tablescape, keep it simple. Don't overthink a ton of accoutrements and go overboard with online ordering a bunch of twinkle lights that will be more of a headache than they're worth. Go for minimal and classy with a dash of festive.

Make sure to take some time away from the kitchen to get in some physical activity. Maybe you take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood, do a family outing to a park (staying safely socially distanced, of course), or go for a run or stream a yoga flow. Do whatever activity is going to generate some endorphins and keep you in a happy mood for the holiday festivities.