Between homeschooling, therapies, planning meals, cleaning and everything else, the week of Thanksgiving used to be so overwhelming and stressful. By the time Thanksgiving came I was so exhausted and didn’t enjoy the holiday. This all changed when I started preparing earlier. 

Now? I do it differently.  I take the time to stop, take a breath, plan ahead and focus on what matters and brings us joy. It’s not about a non stop kitchen, a perfectly clean home or doing everything.

Let me share with you how and what I do ahead of time. 

Here’s my simple plan for this week that helps me head into Thanksgiving feeling calm, not chaotic.

1. Get the kitchen ready– because a clean and organized kitchen makes everything easier for me.
    

• Clean out the fridge, get rid of old leftovers and wipe down the inside of the fridge. .
• Restock essentials — milk, butter, eggs, spices, foil, paper towels.
• Do a quick pantry check for flour, sugar, condiments and baking staples.
   

Pro Tip: I also do this the week before Christmas too.
It doesn’t have to be perfect — just ready enough so I can cook without scrambling and being stressed out. 

2. Prep and Freeze What You Can

Cooking everything on Thanksgiving Day is stressful. Starting now I prep the following items.

• Bake and freeze muffins, rolls and snacks.
• Make casseroles (for Thanksgiving and for dinner) ahead and freeze them unbaked.
• Make 1-2 breakfasts so breakfast time is easier. 

Future me always says thank you when I open the freezer and half the work is already done.

3. Keep Home Resets Simple

Instead of deep-cleaning every corner, I focus on light resets:

• A quick 15-minute tidy in the kitchen and/or the room that needs the most attention.
• Clean bathrooms once a week and wipe counters a few times during the week.
• Do one load of laundry a day so it doesn’t pile up.

These small steps keep the house maintained without burning me out.

 “Peace doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from preparation.”

4. Create Margin

Here’s something I wish I’d learned sooner — you don’t have to do it all the week of Thanksgiving.

I say no to anything that doesn’t serve our family this week:

• No big projects, we keep homeschooling with fun projects, hands on learning and a few lessons from the books.
• No major cleaning, our cleaning routine we have in place really helps with this. We rarely ever have to do a major cleaning. (we usually do this after Christmas)
• No overscheduling.

Instead, I leave breathing room for fun, rest, walks, coffee breaks, family movie nights and time with my husband and kids. This right here is so essential for keeping me grounded and makes the holiday feel peaceful instead of rushed. To me I don’t want to be going, going, going, I want time to create memories. 

5. Focus on What Really Matters

This week isn’t just about food and cleaning — it’s about preparing my heart.
I take time each morning to:

• Read a short devotion, gratitude verse and prayer.
• Write one thing I’m thankful for.
• Talk to the kids about the true meaning of thanksgiving and gratitude.

Thanksgiving is about gratitude and not doing it all. Simple things bring us calm in our homes and begin with being truly thankful.

Mama, you don’t need to do everything!!

Just do the things that matter most.
Simplify the meals, put casseroles in the freezer, do crockpot meals, do 15 minute resets and your home will still feel full — of love, not just food.

If you want your days to feel lighter through the holidays, Simplify the Chaos will help you build calm routines and home resets that actually fit your family.
Because peace doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from intention.

👉 Start Simplifying Today ➡️Here.

Love and Support,

Billie-Jo