Feeling Stressed This Thanksgiving? 5 Simple Ways to Find Calm and Joy

For many people, Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, connection, and good food. But let’s be honest, it can also bring a fair amount of stress. Between planning meals, managing family dynamics, and keeping up with traditions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by expectations. The holiday that’s meant to celebrate thankfulness can sometimes leave us feeling exhausted instead of peaceful.

If you find yourself feeling more frazzled than festive this season, you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to find calm and balance so you can enjoy the moments that truly matter.

1. Focus on what really matters. Take a moment to reflect on what Thanksgiving means to you. Is it about family connection, rest, or gratitude? When you clarify your values, it becomes easier to let go of the things that don’t align with them. The meal doesn’t have to be perfect, and not every tradition has to be kept. Simplifying creates space for joy.

2. Set boundaries with kindness. If you know that certain conversations, commitments, or family expectations increase your stress, it’s okay to set limits. You can decline an invitation or step away when things get tense. Boundaries are not barriers, they are guides that protect your peace.

3. Practice mindful moments. Even short pauses can help reset your nervous system. Take a few deep breaths before guests arrive, go for a short walk after dinner, or focus on the smell and texture of the food you’re preparing. These small acts of mindfulness bring you back to the present and remind you to savor it.

4. Ask for help. You do not have to carry the entire holiday on your shoulders. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or hosting, allow others to contribute. Collaboration not only reduces your workload but also invites connection and shared memories.

5. Offer yourself grace. Holidays can bring up complicated emotions, especially if you’re navigating grief, change, or conflict. It’s okay if this year feels different. Gratitude can coexist with sadness or stress. What matters most is caring for yourself through it all.

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. When you focus on presence over performance, you make space for genuine gratitude and connection.

Try this worksheet for some gratitudev self discovery from the folks over at positivephyscology.com

Self-Assessment-for-Assertiveness-Self-Discovery.pdf

Download PDF • 145KB

If the holidays tend to feel overwhelming and you’d like support managing stress or anxiety, JPB Counseling can help. Our therapists offer tools to help you find calm not just during the holidays, but throughout the year.

Schedule Today