Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, family, and of course, a sumptuous feast. While it’s a holiday looked forward to by many, it can also be fraught with potential mishaps that could turn your festive celebration into a stressful ordeal. Here are 10 common Thanksgiving mistakes you should avoid to ensure your holiday goes off without a hitch.

1. Not Planning Ahead: One of the biggest mistakes is failing to plan. Ensure you have a timetable for shopping, defrosting the turkey, preparation, and cooking.

2. Forgetting to Thaw the Turkey: Underestimating the time it takes to thaw a turkey is a common blunder. Depending on its size, it can take several days in the fridge.

3. Over or Underseasoning: Season your dishes judiciously. Excessive salt or herbs can overpower dishes while too little seasoning can result in blandness.

4. Overcrowding the Oven: Piling too many dishes into the oven at once can lead to uneven cooking. Plan to use stovetop space and consider which dishes can be made ahead.

5. Ignoring Dietary Restrictions: In today’s world of diverse dietary preferences and restrictions, it’s important to ask guests in advance if they have any special requirements.

6. Not Preparing Enough Food: Running out of food is every host’s nightmare. It’s better to err on the side of abundance than scarcity with Thanksgiving dishes.

7. Neglecting Timing: Failing to synchronize the readiness of your dishes for mealtime can mean serving cold mashed potatoes with your hot turkey – not ideal!

8. Using Unfamiliar Recipes: Trying out new recipes on Thanksgiving Day can result in surprises—good and bad. Practice them beforehand or stick to tried-and-true dishes.

9. Skimping on Ambiance: The atmosphere is key. Don’t spend so much time cooking that you forget about setting the mood with decorations, music, and comfortable seating.

10. Forgetting What It’s All About: Lastly—and perhaps most crucially—don’t get so caught up in perfection that you forget the day is about gratitude and being together with loved ones over a shared meal.

Keep these points in mind as you prepare for this year’s Thanksgiving feast, and you’ll be well on your way to creating wonderful memories with those you care about most!