I have never been much of a host. Going to other people’s houses is wonderful, but having people over isn’t my forte. Despite being aware of this, I decided to give it another go this year by hosting a gathering for my birthday.
But within about two minutes of making that decision, I was already regretting it. Will my different friend groups get along? What if no one even shows up? These were just a few of the questions swirling around my head as I sent off the invites – something that took me about 24 hours to do, after multiple waves of indecision. Parties should be all about the fun, so why does hosting them sometimes feel like work? Credit: Compiled by Bethany Rae Parties should technically be all about the fun, a chance to wind down from the stressors in life.
So why can hosting them trigger such anxiety? Mitchell Howarth, a clinical psychologist who specialises in treating anxiety , says this is usually the result of a combination of three things: a fear of being judged, an expectation for everything to be perfect, and the need to simultaneously manage various tasks. Though it’s relatively common to become overwhelmed when hosting an event, it doesn’t mean you’re incapable of throwing a total rager (or a tasteful tea, depending on your style). Here’s how to alleviate some of the most common concerns.
When you’re worried no one will show up It’s about an hour before the event, and you begin receiving the dreaded “something came up” texts. It’s eno.