How to Set Boundaries when Thanksgiving Feels Overwhelming

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude. It’s a time to be grateful for your blessings and the things that matter to you. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving can sometimes be an overwhelming burden due to finances, family members, health issues and other worries. To keep from feeling totally stressed out this Thanksgiving, it’s important to know how to set boundaries when things get too overwhelming.

Your holidays should be a break from everyday life. So don’t allow yourself to get too overwhelmed during what should be a time of celebration. Protect your sanity and keep your holiday positive by setting some healthy boundaries this holiday season. 

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How can I stop stressing over Thanksgiving?

Guideposts.com says that setting boundaries is key to alleviating stress and reorienting yourself toward an attitude of gratitude. Take these steps to set boundaries for Thanksgiving:

Assess your current situation and plan accordingly.

Wouldn’t the world be nice if every day was sunny? Unfortunately, that’s not realistic. Before the holiday season, you need to assess your situation and make plans accordingly. There is absolutely nothing wrong with modifying your situation to reflect your current situation. Being in denial doesn’t help anything. Be honest with yourself to prevent yourself from getting too stressed out trying to do things that will cause financial stress later. 

Tip: Stay organized with Erin Condren’s Life Planner.

Make a budget and stick to it.

It’s fun to invite everyone over for a huge Thanksgiving dinner…IF you can afford it. If your budget doesn’t allow it, a potluck might be more appropriate. Likewise, you may want to travel to visit family for the holidays, but you may have other financial responsibilities lurking in the background. The best way to keep stress at bay is to make healthy decisions and live within your means. Know your budget and make plans that fit within your budget. Your family and friends will love you just the same. It’s more about the time spent together than the food. 

Just say no.

Saying no can be hard, but saying yes to too many things can cause so much stress. You are not being rude by saying no, you’re protecting yourself. As much as you’d like to, remember you can’t do all the things. Thanksgiving is no different. You can’t invite everybody over and you can’t accept every invitation that you receive. Learn to say no and take control of your holiday schedule. 

Try something new this Thanksgiving.

Family traditions are great, but it’s okay to begin some new traditions, too. Think outside of the box and try some new things. You might stress yourself out trying to do things exactly like they’ve been done in the past. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to mimic traditional activities. Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new this Thanksgiving whether it be a new recipe, a new location, or even new attendees. You might end up having the best Thanksgiving ever. 

Don’t allow the Thanksgiving holidays to pile on unnecessary stress. You have the power to set limits and protect yourself from being completely drained and overwhelmed. Take control of your life and do what’s best for you this season.