Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season, and brings on a mix of emotions for everybody.

Often times, people are reminded of key events from previous holidays. Someone may have had a proposal planned at last year’s Thanksgiving lunch. Or, if you were the center of a family discussion at last year’s Thanksgiving meal, you might feel conflicted about attending this year’s gatherings. After all, why would anyone want to go into a situation feeling like they are about to walk into a conflict? The simple thought of having to attend such an event may bring up feelings of regrets and resentments before you even get to the gathering. What about the people who don’t make a big deal of the holiday because that just reminds them of all the things they’ve lost this past year, including family members, trust, love, or a job?

So there are five things you can do to make sure you have a better Thanksgiving than you did last year:

1. Prepare yourself emotionally and physically for staying calm around family members who may not always have positive things to say. This may include doing belly-breathing exercises or going to a cardio class in the morning to help you feel calm and refreshed.
2. Take a friend with you to a family event for emotional support if you expect there may be a stressful interaction.
3. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank. Helping others helps people stay mindful and thankful of their situations. Check out https://www.volunteermatch.org for a volunteering opportunity near you.
4. Plan a small road trip for the day so you stay busy and enjoy a nice change of scenery—always guaranteed to have a positive effect.
5. If none of the above options are within reach, consider getting some friends together for some holiday desserts and watching your favorite movies. It’s okay to not be in the mood to go out– forcing yourself to do something you don’t like to do will only backfire. Some times having a time to recharge can release built up tension and help you recharge your “social battery.”