By Lauren Wiener

You know the feeling. Whether it’s a gathering of four or 40, no matter how much you’ve prepared, there is that inevitable rush of anxiety as the big day approaches. You want every detail just right: the flawless chocolate soufflé, the immaculately dusted living room—to the point that it’s stressing you out. A lot.

According to a recent study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people who never settle for less than absolute best—"maximizers"—tend to report less satisfaction and happiness and more regret and depression in their lives than do "satisficers," who will accept things as good enough.

Need some help keeping your perfection prowess at bay? Start small—and follow these tips to ensure a more stress-free and enjoyable time at your next get-together.

One-stop shop:
The more choices you have, the more likely you will regret your decisions, according to Barry Schwartz, the Swarthmore College professor who authored the survey. "Buy everything you’ll need in one store, or let yourself spend no more than one to two hours preparing the meal." You may be uncomfortable initially knowing there are other things you can keep doing, he says, but you will wind up more satisfied in the long run.

Measure what matters:
Looking around at what others are doing better will only make you feel worse, Schwartz says. Instead, he says to remain focused on the current scenarios and tackle more realistic situations: the simple, rather than elaborate, events.

Become a savvy shopper:
When you are crunched for time, faux is the way to go. Shannon Cohen, 39, swears by frozen hors d'oeuvres, such as little spinach quiches. "If you use your own serving dish, no one will know the difference." Consider buying store-bought ingredients to substitute for dishes you typically make from scratch.

Party Inc.:
Apply those killer office skills to your entertaining enterprise. Delegate specific tasks to trusted friends: One gets dishwasher duty while another preps dessert. People won’t remember who served what when you are out having fun instead of staying cooped up in the kitchen.

Maximizing perfection will minimize a happy hosting experience. Start figuring out what you can give up, and get ready to be the life of the party.