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Have you tried answering your tests from finish to start instead of the usual way? This might seem disorienting to you but it works for many people. As a matter of fact, this method is also a well-known approach in project management and negotiations called backward mapping.

Applying this tactic to your party might be helpful in avoiding last minute shopping or panicking. In this scheme, what you do is you focus first on your party’s finale. After visualizing the day of your party, think in reverse about how to get there.

Make an outline of things to do by working backward to present. Party time should be spotless, one to two hours before you were putting the pets out of the party area or getting the celebrant and you dressed and loading batteries or film in your camera. A week before that, you were designing your program. An outline can also help you prepare for potential party problems like venue, date, food shortage and driving directions to guests.

A time line is very important. Be firm with your deadlines but be flexible, allowing for minor slips. Being too tight will make you nuts. For example, you set the deadline to get all your invited guests to RSVP by Tuesday. Unfortunately, a number of them did not call or confirm their attendance. You can spend Tuesday until Thursday to ring those who haven’t gotten back to you yet.

Backward mapping works best for food preparation. If you don’t have a caterer, cooking and preparing food are two of the most tedious parts in hosting a party. Oftentimes, guests arrive while you are still wearing an apron. Avoid this by working backward from serving time. Choose a time for eating and list all the food you’re serving and their corresponding prep time. You’ll know what to cook first and last.

A Party Leftover’s Message

You too can be a renowned cook even if you’ve never been on Iron Chef. When your party, by accident, gets overabundant in food, treat it as your lucky day. Instead of thinking how you’ll be consuming the same provisions for the next two weeks, think of the guests and neighbors who will be happy when you share the extra food with them.

This is your chance to feed a multitude and if you’ve struck gold, your dish becomes a smash. Imagine mixing odd ingredients and ending up with something close to coriander-coated sturgeon fillets. As your dish passes on from mouth to mouth, you’re getting more and more famous. They’ll be calling and visiting, hoping for a clue on the recipe. You’d be saying, “It’s an old family recipe,” when in truth, this is just the best accident you ever had. The next time you host a party, there’s no need to check who RSVP d. They’ll all come for another delicious surprise.

Some hosts, in fact, prepare for oversupply of food. They have to-go food boxes all ready. These to-go boxes can be purchased in grocery and online stores. Other hosts use microwaveable plastic containers with tags attached in lieu of to-go food boxes. These to-go food boxes and containers are wonderful tokens for your guests. They will be happy to share the extra food with their family or co-workers.

Imagine how far your culinary miracle can reach. You will be happy too that your fridge is safe of premature breakage. Make a food pack of everything served in the party. A little of this and a little of that and you’re all set in sharing this mouth-watering experience. In addition to that, the thought of food sharing might inspire you to explore your culinary creativity and try out new recipes. Who knows, you might actually end up in that famous TV show.

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