How to Genuinely Enjoy Hosting This Season

With the holiday season approaching, many of us are getting ready to host – dinners, parties and gatherings of all sorts.

And with that comes lots of preparing: the cleaning, the menu, the shopping and the décor. We want everything to be just right.

But when you think about the gatherings you’ve loved the most, you’re probably not remembering the perfect centerpieces. What made them meaningful was something deeper – they met a real need. Maybe it was a feeling of belonging and connection. Or maybe it gave you a moment to forget the stress and feel playful and light.

So before you host, ask yourself: What am I actually craving right now?

A little reprieve – like a holiday-themed movie night for the kids, while the adults get to finish a conversation? A wholesome adventure – like a midnight breakfast party with pancakes at 10pm, cozy sweaters and holiday music?

Once you know what you need, the planning gets clearer. It shapes who you invite, what you’ll serve, and how you’ll spend the time.  

And even though it won’t take away the effort that hosting requires, it can make it feel lighter – because now the gathering is filling your cup, too.

So this season, don’t start with logistics. Start with what you need, and build your gathering around that.

That’s where the real joy of hosting lives.

Inspired by the work of Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering.