What Thanksgiving Dinner Taught Me About Managing Multiple Deadlines at Once

Thanksgiving just passed, and like many of you, I spent most of that Thursday toggling between oven timers, simmering sauces, coordinating conversations, and wondering how is it already 3 p.m.? Every year, hosting Thanksgiving reminds me that managing a holiday meal and managing multiple deadlines have more in common than you’d expect.

They both demand planning, presence, flexibility, and—perhaps most importantly—the ability to hold several things at once without falling apart.

And here’s the thing: It’s not just about “getting it all done.” It’s about doing it with some measure of peace, clarity, and grace.

In my work as a Mindful Living editor, I’ve helped people navigate some truly complex workloads. And yet, every year, it’s my kitchen that humbles me. There’s always something to burn, forget, or juggle. But also, always something to learn.

Let’s explore what Thanksgiving dinner can teach us about managing multiple deadlines at once—and how you can apply those lessons to your daily life in a way that feels both grounded and achievable.

When the Oven Becomes a Classroom

I didn’t expect mashed potatoes to remind me how I approach project management—but they did.

There was a moment, about halfway through cooking, where everything needed my attention at once: the stuffing was almost too crisp, someone asked for wine, the timer for the turkey blared, and I still hadn’t set the table. In that one minute, I realized I had to make peace with imperfect multitasking.

Because here’s the truth: we glamorize being “on top of everything,” but real life—like Thanksgiving dinner—rarely plays out that neatly. Things simmer. Others boil over. Some deadlines arrive early; others get pushed.

The best cooks (and project managers) aren’t just good at sticking to the plan—they’re flexible when it doesn’t go as planned.

And that’s where the real skill lies.

The Hidden Art of Overlapping Tasks (Without Overwhelm)

One thing I’ve learned is that multitasking is a myth—but multi-layering is a skill.

During dinner prep, I noticed how certain dishes could be roasting while I stirred something else. Some things didn’t need me watching over them constantly. Others demanded full attention.

This is also true of our workload. Not every task requires the same kind of mental energy. Some can simmer while you focus on deeper work. Others demand presence, focus, and clear headspace.

When managing multiple deadlines, try looking at your to-do list the way you’d look at a meal prep timeline:

• Which “projects” are slow cookers that just need monitoring?
• Which are quick-cooking but time-sensitive?
• Where are your bottlenecks?
• And what can be prepped ahead of time—so you’re not scrambling later?

This layering approach is more sustainable than trying to do everything at once. It's not about intensity. It’s about rhythm.

A Note on Burnout: Sometimes the Turkey Isn’t the Only Thing That’s Overdone

A 2023 report from the American Psychological Association found that 77% of U.S. workers experience stress related to their jobs—highlighting how common workplace stress remains.

It’s easy to brush off stress when it’s “just a season.” But when that season stretches for months—or blends into the next one—our bodies and minds start sending distress signals.

During Thanksgiving, you likely built in moments to breathe: a glass of water between courses, a deep exhale after guests arrived. When juggling deadlines, the same rule applies.

You’re not lazy for stepping away. You’re wise for pacing your energy.

Overwork isn't always about having too much to do—it’s often about expecting yourself to do it all at the same intensity, without pause.

Planning Is Good. Buffering Is Better.

You can plan Thanksgiving down to the minute. But the moment someone spills cranberry sauce on the seating chart? You realize the real skill is in how you respond—not just how you planned.

One of the most powerful time management tools I’ve ever used is buffer time.

Just like how you’d plan to have the turkey out of the oven 30 minutes before guests arrive (giving you a margin for error), buffer time between deadlines gives you space to regroup, breathe, and address unexpected hiccups.

This might look like:

• Leaving 15-minute gaps between meetings
• Scheduling “project catch-up” time instead of overloading your calendar
• Saying no to just one more thing—even if you could “technically squeeze it in”

The goal isn’t to do less. It’s to do what matters—without crashing.

Delegating With Kindness (And Releasing Control)

Thanksgiving dinner taught me (again) that asking for help is not a weakness. It’s a strategy.

I used to feel like I had to do everything myself, from peeling potatoes to arranging the centerpiece. But here’s what I’ve seen—both in my own life and in the lives of the women I’ve coached: Trying to hold it all leads to dropping the things that matter most.

When managing multiple deadlines, delegation isn’t just practical—it’s compassionate. It gives others the opportunity to show up. It gives you space to breathe.

Sometimes that means outsourcing part of a work project. Sometimes it means asking your partner to take over bedtime so you can focus. And sometimes it means letting go of control over how someone else will do it—and being okay with “done” over “perfect.”

Letting go is hard. But holding on to everything is harder.

Mindful Transitions Are the Secret to Mental Reset

After the last dish was cleared on Thanksgiving, I didn’t rush to clean up. I sat down, tea in hand, letting the fullness of the day land in my body.

We rarely do that between deadlines.

We go from meeting to task to inbox to calendar alert without ever stopping to mentally transition.

Mindful transitions help us reset between tasks, reducing stress and preventing carryover fatigue. A 2022 study in PLOS ONE found that short micro-breaks can boost energy and improve focus by as much as 40%. Meanwhile, research in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed that employees who took regular micro-breaks felt less physical discomfort and reported greater job satisfaction.

You might try:

• A short walk around the room after finishing a task
• A minute of deep breathing before starting a new project
• Writing down what you just completed before moving on

You don’t need long breaks to reset. You just need intentional ones.

The Emotional Weight of Deadlines Is Real (But Manageable)

One thing we don’t talk about enough is the emotional weight of deadlines.

Just like Thanksgiving can stir up emotions—family dynamics, grief, pressure to create the “perfect” meal—our work can bring up insecurity, fear of failure, or the discomfort of being behind.

It’s not just about logistics. It’s about capacity.

And emotional capacity matters just as much as cognitive load. We are not machines. We’re human. And every task we carry also carries meaning, expectations, and emotional noise.

What helps is recognizing that emotional fatigue is a valid form of depletion. It deserves care and recovery just like physical fatigue does.

That’s why soft structure, rituals of reset, and kindness toward yourself matter as much as any productivity system.

When You’re Spinning Too Many Plates, Come Back to Center

Every Thanksgiving, there’s a moment—usually mid-chaos—where I stop, take a deep breath, and remind myself: presence is the priority.

It’s not about having every dish hot at the same time. It’s about showing up for the moment with some measure of grace.

The same applies when your workload feels like too much. Return to your center. What’s actually essential? What can wait? What can be done with less effort or more support?

Recenter around purpose. Let go of urgency that isn’t yours. This quote lives on my desk—and I often come back to it when I’m juggling too much and forgetting to breathe. You don’t need to push harder. Sometimes, you need to pause, reset, and come back with a clearer heart.

Your Reset Reminders

• Not all tasks need your full attention—layer your efforts with intention. Let some things “simmer” while focusing on what needs precision.

• Use buffer time like you would rest time for a roast—it makes everything feel less rushed. Leave space between tasks to regroup, not collapse.

• Delegate before you need to. Trusting others earlier saves you from overwhelm later.

• Build in micro-resets between mental loads. Even 90 seconds of intentional stillness can refresh your brain.

• Recognize emotional fatigue as real. If you’re carrying heavy inner pressure, that counts—and it deserves care, not dismissal.

Let the Moments Breathe

Thanksgiving taught me, again, that the goal isn’t to control every moving part. It’s to create space where things can unfold with ease and purpose.

Managing multiple deadlines isn't about squeezing more into your day—it's about knowing how to stretch your energy in ways that feel aligned, sustainable, and human.

Next time your calendar feels like a crowded stovetop, pause. Ask yourself what truly needs your presence. Then take one grounded step at a time.

You’ll get it done. And more importantly, you’ll feel more like you while doing it.