Navigating Holiday Consumerism and Excess
This is the second post in my holiday series, created to inspire you and help you find more ease during this season. If you missed the first one, here it is: A KonMari-Inspired Approach to the Holidays
Warmth, connection, and generosity are the hallmarks of the holiday season. During this festive time, it's easy to overindulge, overconsume, and overspend. The good news is that you can enjoy a more mindful holiday with less excess and more joy. My family, friends, clients, and readers (like you!) come from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds, so these tips were written with that in mind.
Here are some ways to save time, money, and energy while being gentler on the planet.
Commit to a Sustainable Holiday Season
In my previous post, I discussed how there's often a gap between what we believe we should do and what we truly want to do. A good question to ask yourself is: “What does a mindful and sustainable holiday look like for me?”
When you commit to this vision, it's easier to make decisions that support it. Maybe you want to skip gift-giving altogether and focus on connecting with loved ones instead, or choose homemade decor over buying new items. Set clear intentions and be specific.
Positively Reframe Your Decisions
Messaging from other people and marketing can influence you to want more. This can cause unhelpful thoughts about not being enough or not doing enough. Positive reframing is a technique for seeing a negative or tough situation more positively. It helps to shift perspective with kindness and empathy. Here are a few holiday-specific examples:
Food: Buying too much and throwing away unused ingredients or leftovers can cause waste → “I will make a plan for our holiday meal, choose quality over quantity, and focus on buying just enough.”
Gifts: Instead of buying random items or shopping out of a sense of obligation → “I’m choosing gifts that the recipient wants or serve a genuine purpose in their life.”
Invitations: Instead of ignoring an invitation completely or feeling guilty about not wanting or being able to attend an event → “Thank you for thinking of me. I can’t make it, but I’d like to connect with you another time.”
Consider Low-Waste Celebrations
For each part of holiday prep and celebration, consider whether there's a less wasteful option. There almost always is, and it may require some creativity to achieve the same end result.
Gatherings
○ Sending e-cards and invitations digitally to save paper
○ Using reusable tableware like real dishware, cutlery, and serving utensils
○ Providing reusable to-go containers or asking guests to bring their own for leftovers
Holiday Decor
○ Borrowing from neighbors, friends, family, or your community
○ Shopping at a local thrift or consignment store
○ Using natural elements like dried fruit garlands, pinecones, fallen branches, and leaves
Wrapping Gifts
○ Making or reusing wrapping paper, tissue paper, bags, bows, ribbons, and gift tags with supplies you already have at home
○ Using fabric or reusable bags, boxes, and containers
○ Choosing environmentally friendly embellishments, focusing on natural, upcycled, and reusable materials
Choose Material-Light Gifts
Gifts can take many forms — physical objects, experiences, services, skill exchanges, and more. The value of a gift lies in the thoughtfulness, not in the price tag. Moving from tangible items to non-tangible gifts helps reduce waste and packaging. It’s helpful to know the recipient’s interests, and it’s okay to ask what they want.
Use What You Already Own
Before buying a new outfit for a one-time party or spending money on a niche decor item, consider shopping your home and asking your friends or family if they have what you're looking for. Being creative and resourceful can be fun and rewarding.
Support Local
Shopping in your neighborhood or town is a great way to build community. Supporting local businesses helps keep money in the local economy while reducing carbon emissions from packaging and shipping. You can do this for food, gifts, decor, or services. Of course, refer back to your intentions and acquire mindfully.
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Mindfulness during the holiday season is easier on the environment, our homes, and our wallets. If you're interested in changing your home to better reflect your values, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. I enjoy working with people who are also passionate about living more intentionally for themselves and the planet.
