Thanksgiving dinner is already a melting pot of personalities, quirks, and overcooked stuffing. Add the tension of a recent presidential election, and it’s a recipe for stress. Instead of bracing yourself for battle, try using these mental health-inspired tips to keep your cool, set boundaries, and actually enjoy the holiday. Because nothing says gratitude like protecting your peace.

1. Start with Mindful Breathing

Before stepping into the dining room, take five deep breaths. Inhale peace, exhale dread. Bonus: If Uncle Bob starts a filibuster about voter fraud, this technique works great mid-meal too. Just stare thoughtfully at your mashed potatoes while you regulate your nervous system.

2. Set Intentions, Not Traps

Before the big day, decide what you want out of Thanksgiving. Connection? Laughter? Just the sweet potato casserole? Setting a clear intention will help you steer conversations (and your own emotions) toward what truly matters. “Winning” an argument about the economy? Not on the list.

3. Create a Gratitude Anchor

Pick something you’re genuinely thankful for and hold onto it like a life raft. When the debates start, silently remind yourself of that anchor. Whether it’s your health, your pet, or the sheer existence of pecan pie, this mental exercise can keep you grounded.

4. Practice the “Yes, And” Technique

Borrow this gem from improv comedy: agree without escalating. Example:
Uncle: “The country is doomed!”
You: “Yes, and I’m thankful we still have pie.”
This defuses tension and redirects the focus without denying someone’s feelings. It's conversational aikido.

5. Use the Five Senses Grounding Exercise

When things get heated, ground yourself with this mental health staple:
- Name five things you can see (preferably not clenched fists).
- Four you can touch (like that soft dinner roll).
- Three you can hear (maybe some soft jazz).
- Two you can smell (turkey, anyone?).
- One you can taste (cranberry sauce is great for this).
It’s hard to yell about politics when you’re hyper-focused on sensory input.

6. Create Emotional Boundaries

It’s okay to disengage. Seriously. When Aunt Marge declares she’s writing in Bigfoot in the next election, you don’t have to counter with a dissertation. Instead, try: “That’s interesting. I need to check on the rolls.” Boundaries are acts of self-care.

7. Tap Into Humor as a Coping Mechanism

Laughter is the best de-escalation tool. When Grandpa accuses millennials of ruining the world, reply with, “We’re just trying to keep avocados affordable.” Use humor to diffuse tension and keep the conversation lighthearted—without dismissing anyone’s perspective.

8. Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation (Discreetly!)

Feeling your shoulders creep toward your ears during the third debate about taxes? Tense and relax different muscle groups under the table. Start with your toes, work up to your jaw, and release all that stress. No one has to know you’re doing self-care between bites of green bean casserole.

9. Offer Distraction Therapy

Sometimes the best way to manage a situation is to steer it somewhere else. Suggest playing a game, sharing funny family stories, or debating the *real* hard-hitting question: Is pumpkin pie superior to pecan? (Spoiler: it’s not).

10. Embrace Radical Acceptance

Radical acceptance is the practice of acknowledging reality without resistance. Yes, your cousin will probably bring up conspiracy theories. Yes, the turkey might be dry. Accept it. Fighting reality only increases suffering. Once you let go, you can focus on what’s truly important: the wine.

This year, approach Thanksgiving with a toolkit of mental health techniques and a hearty dose of humor. You might not change anyone’s mind, but you’ll protect your own peace—and that’s something to be truly thankful for.