5 Thanksgiving Self Care Tips for Anxious Moms

Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. Why, you ask? FOOD! I must have been a dog in a past life because, like Koda, I’m super food motivated.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we all get caught up in prepping for guests, cooking mountains of food, and making sure the house is spotless.

But let’s pause and remember: Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey or having a picture-perfect home. It’s about family, friends, love—and, of course, enough food to feed a small army (yum!).

For my fellow anxiety warriors, though, Thanksgiving can feel like the start of the “stress season.” We take on the pressure of making everything perfect—planning, prepping, and often wearing ourselves out before the day even begins.

Sound familiar? If so, you’re in the right place!

This year, I want to help anxious mommas manage that stress by creating a Thanksgiving self care plan.

In this post, we’ll dive into thoughtful ways to care for yourself while embracing the holiday’s genuine spirit.

So, kick back, grab a cozy drink, and let’s embark on this journey of Thanksgiving self care. You deserve it, and trust me, your loved ones will appreciate a more relaxed, refreshed you!

Why is Self Care Important for Anxiety Sufferers?

Every day you are practicing little bits of self care and you don’t even realize it.

Think about it. When you wake up in the morning and you feel gross, sleepy, and nutritionally empty; you practice the self care types by fueling your body, showering, and doing your routine to get yourself moving.

That’s self care!

Self care helps your mind and body do a job WELL. And during holiday prep, self-care helps keep your mind and body grounded, so you can handle the day with less stress.

When we neglect self-care, we get depleted—exactly what we don’t need when tackling holiday planning.

Don’t worry, I’m going to give you some Thanksgiving self care ideas to help make this year’s festivities a breeze.

Recommended Reading: What is Self Care & How it Improves Mental Health

Self Care Tips for Thanksgiving Stress Relief

Make a Thanksgiving Self Care & Party Plan To Manage Stress

The best way to reduce Thanksgiving stress is to plan!

Making a plan will help you expect where you need a little extra help or care.

I always start making my thanksgiving menu in October. I have all my ideas and my head count completed by Halloween. You might be thinking “Wow, that seems really early, or doesn’t it feel you aren’t giving Halloween attention?” NOPE. Because for me, planning is how I keep anxiety from taking over.

Last minute planning and procrastination leads to battling the crowds doing their late Thanksgiving grocery shopping, feeling hurried and rushed, and unsure of how things will go.

Planning helps you mentally and physically prepare for Thanksgiving, by allowing ample time to work on issues that arise.

So take a cue from the Boy & Girl Scouts and get prepared by using a thanksgiving planner-just like this one! Don’t like a paper planner? Use this Notion Template Thanksgiving Prep Digital Planner Template instead!

Creating a timeline, making checklists, and visualizing what a fun Thanksgiving looks like (instead of a “perfect” one) will help you feel prepared and calm. And remember—limit caffeine and alcohol, which can make you feel more jittery.

When you plan, you can mentally prepare for challenges to come. Instead of having your nervous system assaulted with overwhelming thoughts and feelings. You can start working through them and reduce your anxiety.

Recommended Reading: How to Create Smart Goals When You Have Anxiety

Make Thanksgiving a Team Effort To Reduce Stress

One of the biggest mistakes we make when we’re anxious is to refuse help.

Anxiety thrives on isolation. It makes us want to prove ourselves to our family, friends, and even strangers.

Anxiety tells you, “hey, if you can’t do this alone, you’re not good enough.” But that’s not true at all.

Girl! Don’t self sabotage. Get your best pals, your amazing family and make this Thanksgiving one to remember by getting everyone involved.

Why?

Because Teamwork makes the Dream Work!

Some of my favorite Thanksgivings were super simple meals shared with family. No need to go all out—ask your guests to bring a dish or pitch in with the cooking. It’s not a chore day; it’s a holiday!

Get everyone involved in cooking, prepping, and cleaning up. It turns Thanksgiving into a fun, collaborative experience rather than a stressful solo act.

Don’t Be Afraid to Have a Simple Potluck Thanksgiving. Ask your guests to bring a dish or pitch in with the cooking. It’s not a chore day; it’s a holiday! –A pot luck Thanksgiving is in the holiday’s spirit FYI!-

Don’t be afraid to make your Thanksgiving a cooking party. Maybe everyone has new recipes they have been dying to try. Make it a fun experience that you and your guests will want to repeat every year.

The entire guest list comes over and everyone preps, cooks, bakes and has a blast in the kitchen. And the young kids can all play together! We did this at my grandparents, and it’s a reason I love Thanksgiving so much!

The worst part of Thanksgiving is the chores for sure. Have everyone clean to deal with the dishes, trash, and leftovers within minutes so everyone can enjoy each other!

Thanksgiving is about togetherness! Enjoy it and be with those you love!

And don’t forget—the goal isn’t perfection, it’s togetherness.

Aim for Enjoyment, not Perfection

Perfectionism is Anxiety’s twin sister and she’s just as mean.

Being a perfectionist is robbing you of enjoyment. Trust me, I use to be a people pleasing perfectionist that would ditch sleep & skip meals just to take one more pass on an already amazing project.

Perfectionism keeps you in a cycle of “Am I good enough” thinking. And I know how detrimental it is. You spiral into thoughts of “if this isn’t perfect, they won’t enjoy it”. WRONG!

Your family and friends love your Thanksgiving meal because it was made by you, not because it was perfect.

Think about it. As parents, we love our children’s creations even if they are not Michelangelo masterpieces. Why? Because they came from the heart.

Allow your kids to help you, teach them about cooking with love and family. Get in food fights, teach them to measure and pour, have fun and make memories! The memories are what people will remember. Not how the pie looked 20 years ago.

Do you want them to remember the tension that you felt trying to achieve perfection, or the joy you had sharing your time and attention along the way.

Perfectionism leads to more anxiety, stress, procrastination and burnout. None of which is good for your mental health.

Embracing imperfection allows for a more compassionate and fulfilling journey.

So, let’s remember that perfection is an unattainable standard, and it’s okay to make mistakes along the way.

Mistakes are how you learn and grow and find yourself along the way!

Keep It Simple

Accepting our limits is an act of compassion. When we recognize our own needs and boundaries, the Thanksgiving holiday becomes more enjoyable.

This especially applies to not overdoing it on the holidays.

Do you desire a stress free Thanksgiving that you can enjoy and not need time to recover afterward? Yes! We all do!

Thanksgiving self care allows you an opportunity to focus on what we can achieve and excel in. Not pushing past our boundaries and causing stress and overwhelm.

–When I broke my leg in 2023, our family had a simple Thanksgiving meal of baked chicken and potatoes, so no one felt overwhelmed. Accepting limitations helped our family still enjoy the holiday. –

Ask yourself:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? Maybe you don’t know how to make a turkey, but you make an amazing chicken or ham. That’s wonderful! Don’t know how to make a pie? Buy one. We’re not all 5 star chefs, and Thanksgiving doesn’t require us to be.

• Would having Thanksgiving decor bring joy to your life, or would it just be one more task on your to do list?

You are not required to have the perfect table settings, cook a world class meal that would make Gordon Ramsey jealous, or spend a ton of money hosting a dinner to envy for years.

Thanksgiving is about relationships! Cultivate and grow yours this Thanksgiving.

Ultimately, practicing self care during Thanksgiving will help you cultivate a healthier sense of self awareness. And what happens when you become self aware? You reduce anxiety, and start leading a more balanced and happy life!

When we embrace our limits, we free ourselves from the burden of unrealistic expectations and unnecessary stress. By accepting our limits, we cultivate a healthier sense of self-awareness and create space for growth within our own unique capacities, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Create a Quiet Space that is Off Limits for Personal Self Care

Holidays are not a time to forget about your own personal needs.

If you are like me, you love being social, but you’re easily overwhelmed. Even the most social of us need a break from time to time.

Dedicate one room away from the party to self care, for you and all your guests. If anyone needs a break, they’re welcome to go to the room and relax.

Helpful Course on Skillshare: A Calm Home: Interior Design for More Well-being

I really appreciated this idea at a party I attended as a new mom with my four month year old baby. The hostess had a room away from the party for me to go to and nurse and get a break from the noise and chaos. Since that day, I have adopted this practice ever sense.

In this room, provide a mini self care kit that will help relax your 5 senses. Need help to create one? Check out my personal picks for my self care kit!

Recommended Reading: 15 Amazon Must Haves Every Woman Needs for Anxiety

Here are a few ideas for your personal self care space:

• Bring in soft and soothing colors and fabrics to help the nervous system decompress.
• Have a pen and paper available for those who want to journal or brain dump. Grab these mini notebooks so your guests can protect their privacy.
• Print out our FREE ACT Method Positive Thinking Worksheet to help re-frame negative thoughts. Print as many as you like!
• Keep filtered water available to re-hydrate.
• Have a few medications for headaches, stomach pain chewables, and soreness available to guests who need some physical self care.

Remember to Combine Self Care Types to Create Your Own Custom Plan

Thanksgiving is about more than just food and a pristine home; it’s a time for reflection, family, friends, and love.

For those battling anxiety, holiday prep can be overwhelming.

By keeping it simple and accepting our limits, we can focus on what truly matters: cultivating relationships.

Creating a quiet self-care space during the festivities can offer respite when needed.

This Thanksgiving, prioritize self-care to reduce anxiety and enjoy the holiday’s warmth and love.

When you combine the 7 types of self care, you create a one of a kind self care plan that reduces Thanksgiving anxiety and stress.

Share Your Favorite Thanksgiving Self Care Tips in the Comments to help others just like us!!