Last Thanksgiving, after the contentious 2016 election, many Americans cut short the time they spent with family members of the opposing party. A working paper that analyzed cell phone location-tracking data and voter data, for instance, found families in politically divided areas had shorter Thanksgiving dinners.

Tempers haven’t cooled much in the last 12 months. A recent study from the Pew Research Center finds that political polarization continues to worsen. Just 32% of Americans hold a balanced mix of conservative and liberal opinions today, down from 49% in 2004 according to Pew. Everyone else has been moving toward the outer edges of the political spectrum.

Some Thanksgiving hosts may, reasonably, ban political talk at the dinner table. If so, oblige them. (There are plenty of tips for stepping out of the fray when your uncle brags about smashing his Keurig. One etiquette expert suggests preparing neutral conversation starters.) But if you’re brave enough, and your host allows it, talking politics might be to your benefit. After all, our reticence to engage face-to-face with those who disagree with us is a contributing factor in today’s political polarization.

A few helpful tips we’ve seen to keep things constructive:

Have a clear goal. This might be as simple as hearing someone out to understand why they think the way they do. A goal to avoid: changing anyone’s mind.

Separate the person from the opinion. It’s tempting to think the worst of those who spout opinions you vehemently oppose. In those moments, remember what connects you to them, whether they’re a friend or a relative. Never make your comments personal. Your cousin will not care what you have to say about the GOP tax bill if you call him an idiot.

Keep it focused. Limit the conversation to one issue at a time, and talk about the positive reasons for why you believe what you do. Skip the debates about liberals vs. conservatives, or one politician vs. another.

If you find the conversation slipping, take a break. Go catch up on the football scores. Talk about the new Taylor Swift album. The country’s political polarization won’t be healed over a slice of pie, but if we all manage a few moments of polite discourse, there may be hope yet.