With the upcoming holiday season approaching you may be wondering how you can incorporate holiday minimalism into a minimalist lifestyle.
Christmas can be a difficult time for people to embrace a new lifestyle. One of the reasons? We are bombarded by advertisements that encourage us to buy, buy, buy. And the way the adverts are done we feel like we have to buy, buy, buy. This is where the minimalist mindset takes over. We also tend to be concerned about what others may think of our choice.
It’s always easier to reject the excessive consumerism when you are prepared for it. Knowing your boundaries ahead of time, staying committed to your lifestyle and being aware of what’s going on around you, you will be better prepared to handle the consumerism onslaught.
So that brings us to the next step – actually implementing the lifestyle during the holiday season. I will present a few options here for you to consider.
Decorations
Decorations oftentimes are associated with intense emotions. The ornament you purchased to commemorate the births of your children. The collections passed to you from your deceased grandmother. The ornaments made by your children. These all become partial stumbling blocks for people practicing a minimalist lifestyle. Maybe passing some of these treasured items to other close members of the family is a way to still have these treasures close by.
Rather than having 3-dimensional decorations maybe consider 2-dimensional items. Items you can mount on the wall that represent the season. Decorations that are free-standing would, by the minimalist definition, be smaller as well. Take a corner of your home and designate it as your Christmas tree corner. And get something for that corner that fits the corner. Have your Christmas tree in a pot so it can be moved outside after the season.
Choices
If you are tempted to buy new decorations because you may be tired of some older ones, or they broke, go ahead. Minimalism isn’t about denying yourself, it’s about making different choices. An option could be to do a swap of ornaments, or donate them. Just don’t add more. Part of minimalism is not adding to the collection but enjoying them.
When buying decorations for either inside or outside make sure they are quality pieces. Don’t spend your money on junk. Just remember that if you are a minimalist in a tiny home you will have to find a place to store them.
Gifts
Right from the start inform your family and friends of your lifestyle decision/choice. Let them know that you won’t be insulted if you don’t receive a gift from them. Spending time is as important, or more important than items that a minimalist in a tiny home now has to find space to put away until next year.
Consumables
Things that will be used up rather than stored up. Give experiences, as was mentioned earlier. Tickets to concerts, activity centres, shows or plays, whatever type of entertainment your gift recipient would enjoy. Gift cards to the recipients’ favourite coffee shop or restaurant are almost always enjoyed. Another type of consumable that could be offered is to provide a favoured software or online media channel. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Channel, National Geographic channel – all are options available for entertainment. As well, you could offer to pay for a selected software preferred by your geek/nerdy family member or friend.
Donations
Request a donation made in your name to yours or their favourite charity. Adopt a pet, adopt a child, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the various health organizations – are all options. Ensure the charitable gift is in line with the beliefs held by the minimalist recipient.
Personal
For minimalists a physical item might not be the best gift. However, you could offer to make a meal, deliver it, clean up, let the recipient enjoy a delicious meal as if they are at a restaurant without leaving the comfort of their own home. You could offer to perform a specific household chore – something to make the life a little easier for the recipient. Give a nicely created gift certificate containing the offer. This nicely packaged gift certificate will cause the recipient to remember the gift even before they use it.
Holiday Minimalism is An Option
Whatever you choose to give be sure it aligns with the intentions of the recipient. The holidays should be about creating memories. Don’t stress about buying things, rather have activities where you spend time together. Share a meal, go to a show, take a trip. This is what will be remembered.
Are you interested in this topic? If so, feel free to reach out. It all starts with a conversation. Let’s chat!
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