5 Ways to Mindfully Host your Next Event

The decision to host an event can bring on a myriad of emotions. Oftentimes excitement and

anticipation can turn to overwhelm and anxiety in mere moments at the first sign of

complications. However, using some simple strategies up front can ease those struggles and

put you and your guests at ease for everyone’s enjoyment. Keeping a pulse on your own emotions and aiming for those more positive feelings is not always easy, but mindfulness in any capacity can create a beautiful environment for celebrations and connection alike.

A host’s mood is contagious, so to keep any frantic angst at bay, here are my 5 tips for finding

your center intended for any event:

1. Start Early

I know some reluctant hosts that avoid & procrastinate, and then their worry compounds as the

event day looms. Put time on your side and plan for planning. Create space for thoughtfulness

and intentionally to make the best use of your time.

Depending on your own preparation process, skills, and passion, some hosting elements come

easy – so do those first! Identify your hosting strengths and start the momentum where you

excel to avoid any uncomfortable feelings.

I have a tendency to focus my events around food, so I already have a rough idea of what will

be on the menu before any planning starts. The joy of meal planning for me makes all other

elements come into focus. I can use that inspiration to spur on the parts I tend to avoid.

2. Set the intent

Find your and your event’s why to stay close to it. From a small dinner party to large life

celebrations, it may be simple to identify the purpose of the gathering on the surface. Yet,

crafting an experience for more meaningful moments to unfold can benefit from a deeper dive

into your hosting skills and preferences.

The most sacred of my hosting foundations is making people feel welcomed right away. My

intent always starts with a warm feeling of a meaningful greeting, and that intent amplifies with

each person entering an event space.

3. Set Expectations

Clear is kind. You can preemptively course correct before tragedy strikes by informing guests of

meaningful specifics early on. Simple things like communicating road construction updates and

order of events can come later, but setting the stage for what, when, and (most importantly) why

can give guests the runway for prioritizing attendance…or not.

Expectations start with the invitations; whether it’s a group text or formally mailed invites, nail

the messaging and you have successfully crafted an experience that will put you and your

guests at ease out of the gate.

Expectation setting also benefits you! I have no problem setting the bar high for any event, but

you can spiral if you continue to add on and change things past a certain point. Feel confident in your decision making and don’t be afraid of the word ‘no’ even if it’s to your creative, excited

self. Give yourself permission to set boundaries for clarity and calm.

4. Be Personal

Spend energy on at least one individualized detail that brings you joy. This is an exercise of

appreciation and gratitude when done with intent. Not everyone can be as masterful at easter

eggs as Taylor Swift, but adding in a playlist song that you know someone LOVES or pulling out

an inherited serving dish with a history makes for an opportunity for added enjoyment.

Thank you notes have their place, but incorporating a considerate element for a guest or

sharing a bit more of yourself as host can accomplish more than a generic ‘thanks for coming’ in

real-time. If those details aren’t openly discovered during the event, you’ve got some great

content for a thank you note afterwards as a bonus.

5. Enjoy

Prioritize fun throughout the entire process and remember messy can be magic - perfection is

overrated anyway. Even if overwhelm hits and you feel like everything is going wrong, finding 3 minutes in a bathroom with dessert can be awfully cathartic. Plus, those experiences can be teaching moments with opportunities for epic storytelling down the road… High stakes entertaining really doesn’t exist if you focus on your joy and bringing your best self to the party.