Do you drive yourself to exhaustion when you clean before having company? Do you run yourself ragged trying to make everything perfect? I have done this to myself (and my family) in the past, and while I want my home to look good and feel comfortable for guests, I’ve finally realized that things just aren’t going to be perfect. I’m much more relaxed now and I can enjoy time with my guests, even if there are a few toys out of place or one of my serving pieces gets broke and I have to use one that doesn’t match. Guess what? People rarely notice, and if they do, they don’t care anyway.
My best advice is to stop overdoing it, especially when hosting events for family and friends. They love you for you, not for your home, your décor, or your housekeeping abilities. Do your best and leave the rest. Enjoy yourself and the people you love, because life is too short to do otherwise. We only have so many holidays, birthdays, and special occasions together, so don’t waste one minute of any of them worrying about the placement of accessories, that little stain on your tablecloth, or the dust on top of the door frame that you didn’t have time to get to.
You’ll also insure that other members of your household are more relaxed instead of feeling like they’re walking on eggshells, nervous about moving anything or taking a shower when you just scoured the tub. They can always put an item back or rinse the tub out afterward, so relax.
Your guests will also be more relaxed if things aren’t too perfect. A casual get together is often more enjoyable than the ultra-formal. Formal is nice sometimes, but people are more likely to kick back and really have a good time in a relaxed atmosphere.
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