9 Ways To Save Your Sanity On The Wednesday Before Thanksgiving

List longer than your arm? No problem.

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If you’ve ever been to a grocery store on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, gripping seven just-printed recipes with only a vague idea of the pie you want to make, you know it’s a, well, memorable experience.

Here's How to Make it a Less Memorable Experience:

1. Consolidate and Categorize Your Grocery List

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Not only will this get you in and out of the store faster, but it will ensure that you don’t forget anything.

2. Remember to Check What You Have Before You Leave the House

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You might just have something you need already laying around.

3. Eat Something Before Heading to the Store

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A granola bar will do.

4. Go at the Right Time

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The best time to go? Monday morning—there are fewer people and everything’s usually freshly stocked on Mondays so you’ll have the best pick of the produce.

5. Don’t Buy Too Much

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Consider cutting back so you don’t end up with way too much.

6. Also, Don’t Forget Non-Food Items

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Bulk up on takeout containers (for guests to bring leftovers home in), parchment paper, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil.

7. Unload Your Groceries Immediately

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It may seem counter-intuitive, but even if you’re not cooking right away, unload those groceries. A clean counter is a happy counter.

8. Have Take-Out Containers on Hand:

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Remember to buy take-out containers before the big meal so that your friends and family can take leftovers home!

9. Make a Post-Mortem of the Meal

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Write down all of the things that worked (and what didn’t). It'll make shopping even easier next year. Hint: this turkey worked.

Catherine O'Donnell contributed to this post. For more, visit Food52.