It’s beginning to look a lot like holiday shopping! What can you do to Simplify for the Season? Of course shopping can be fun but it can also be quite stressful. Feeling like you have to buy something for that special someone on your list who has everything. Ugh!
- If you can do your shopping early this can be a huge stress reliever. This gives you time before Christmas to relax and truly enjoy the season.
- Before you head out to go shopping check out your decorations, wrapping paper, gift bags, etc. Knowing what you have means you will not be tempted to add more or create duplicates.
- Avoid the big box stores and plan to shop local and buy handmade at holiday markets or craft shows whenever you can.
- Now, is the best time to downsize your decorations, before the season, so that others can enjoy them. Gift them by listing them on the Buy Nothing sites. You will make someones day!
- It’s okay for you to set boundaries about what you want to give and receive. I personally love little surprises and, if you have loved ones who want to gift you, you are blessed indeed. I love to give and receive consumable gifts that generally don’t end up as clutter.
- Need some ideas? Here are some Clutter Free Gifts to give and receive that was compiled by the Declutter Your Life and Mind Facebook Group and a Peer Support Group.
- It’s okay to let people know that you want to opt out of receiving or giving gifts this year too. Let them know (early in the season) your reason why. Maybe it’s that you are working on decluttering and really don’t need anything. Is it that you want to focus on spending quality time with them instead of worrying about gifts. They might be relieved too! And if they really still want to gift you, suggest a charity that you support.
- Sort, organize and declutter as you close out the year. A good motivation is that family or friends are planning to visit. Your place does not have to be perfect. Let go of perfectionism and focus on being together with some food and spending quality time together.
As always, I would love to hear from you. How are you simplifying for the season? What will you do to have more fun and less stress? Please comment below……..
It’s hard to get out of that gift-giving tradition. I’ve tried to suggest this to a family member, but keep getting push back. I need to remember that gifts are one of the 5 love languages, and asking not to exchange gifts can be a real bummer for some.
One tradition I have enjoyed is the way my husband’s family picks a name. It’s a large family, so everyone just buys for one person. I think this is a great way to stay festive but not break everyone’s banks!
Hi Seana,
Yes, having to only buy for one person can really alleviate a lot of shopping anxiety over the holidays. We did that in my family as well and it was so much easier. Thank you for commenting!
What a novel idea to be honest about receiving gifts – in that you don’t want anything because you are in the decluttering mode. Instead, you appreciate having the time together.
We don’t celebrate Christmas, but I’ve seen many who do, and the stress gift giving and receiving can cause. Our youngest daughter ‘trained’ us early on. When we asked her to make a list of what she wanted for her birthday, she said (age 10), “I’d like experiences, not things.” What a great life lesson she shared. From then on, we honored her wishes.
At this point, I feel very much like that. I don’t need or want more stuff. Gifts of time, experiences, or personal services are my preferred gifts. I like that they enrich my life, don’t take up space, and deepen my relationships.
Hi Linda,
How wonderful that your daughter at such a young age realized that experiences are the best. I love that! thanks for commenting.
I suspect I have the simplest possible season each year. I’m Jewish (so no Christmas decorations), I have a teeny family (just my mom and sister) with no little kids in the family, and the gift-giving tradition at Hanukkah is mainly for children. My family is in three cities, so we gather at Thanksgiving and then the “season” is pretty much over for us. We do exchange small gifts: a book, a CD, a magazine subscription, but we don’t go wild; I give gifts to my closest friends, but we have developed an approach through the years to get things that are small and meaningful, but make time throughout the year to be *there* for one another, week in and week out. It may not sound festive, but it’s definitely stress-free.
This is not to say I don’t appreciate the buzz of the holidays and the beautiful lights and decorations. I just feel more like an anthropologist than a participant, and that’s OK. I get to enjoy what I observe, but I am never in holiday debt in January.
Your advice is spot-on, and I think it’s what people need to help them get off the holiday stress treadmill!
Hi Julie,
Sounds perfect to me. Stress free and easy and fun!