How To Host A Party…With Very Little Work

Being a young adult cancer survivor or being a young adult dealing with a long term illness can really take a toll on your energy levels.  But your group of peers?  They are still going out dancing, drinking, and generally raising hell.  A big question then is how to keep that great group of friends still engaged with you…while not compromising with your lower than before energy levels.

We have an answer for you!

Here are some great tips on how to host a party with very little work!

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[list_item]Make a fun dessert/entré/appetizer and let everyone else bring the rest![/list_item]
Potlucks are definitely the way to go when you want to minimize energy required to host people.  Plus, encouraging people to bring an item of food is a great way to learn about your friends’ favorite dishes!

[list_item]Save one room’s clean up for a friend.[/list_item]
Have that special person in your life who asks, “is there anything that I can do to help?”  Tell them, YES!  Leave a mildly time consuming task that doesn’t require any micromangement on your part for them to do.  They could vacuum the living room, finish that last round of dishes cluttering the kitchen counters, make a run for the last minute things that you need (soda? toilet paper? paper plates? streamers?), or just come over to start with the preparations.

[list_item]Pick a theme.[/list_item]
Picking a theme is a great way to get people enthusiastic about the direction of the get together while also providing some easy structure to lean on.  It lets food and drink choices off the hook to be a little out there or even goofy, all in the name of following the theme!  We’ll write about different theme ideas in another post.

[list_item]Start a little earlier than you might otherwise.[/list_item]
We all have that friend who can be counted on to arrive an hour (or more!) after the start of a party and then can always help you close down the evening too  🙂  If you find yourself getting tired earlier than you used to, try starting the party a little earlier than you normally would!  If there is food involved, start the party closer to dinner time.  If food isn’t involved, start the party just after dinner time instead of allowing the late evening period to arrive first.  Then your late arriving friend will still have plenty of time to be late but not start pushing the comfort zone of your bed time.

[list_item]Have a movie night![/list_item]
While this could also be a theme as opposed to just a tip, stick with us for a second 🙂  Ask around to see what your friends are interested in watching, having someone pick up movie theater popcorn (while expensive…just getting popcorn from the theater is much cheaper than also buying movie tickets!), grab some soda/drinks/candy, and settle in for a fun movie experience!
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What do you think?  Do you have any other suggestions on how to host a party with very little work?  What do you like to do to keep your friends engaged now that your energy/stress levels have changed?  Tell us in the comments!