Discovering The Joys Of Minimalist Christmas

The holidays are full of joy and cheer, peace on Earth, time spent with family and friends, turkey dinners and Christmas Carols. If your family is like mine, you try and strike a balance between being with family to create memories and not breaking the bank on Christmas gifts. At HALO, we have some tips for you to spend this holiday focusing more on family and friends and less on stuff.

For most families, gift giving is an opportunity to demonstrate how much family and friends means to us. However, it is a culturally created and exploited practice that costs a lot of money and often results in piles of either unwanted or unused stuff in our homes. When your home is hoarded or very cluttered, this is exponentially more problematic than when your home is clean and organized.

The idea of a minimalist Christmas likely means different things to each of us. Most people would agree that a minimalist Christmas involves not receiving a ton of obligatory and useless gifts; but it can also mean not taking part in activities or events that waste energy, time or money or that do not matter to you. Here are some tips from HALO to help you navigate this Christmas so you can rest easy and experience a minimalist holiday.

Let People Know You Don’t Want Gifts

Putting this into action might be a bit awkward; but swallow that awkwardness and express your happiness with everything you have. Be polite but also insist. If your family or friends will not agree then look at a few more suggestions below.

Cash Is King

This one might get some pushback from family and friends because it lacks that personal touch people typically look for in gifts. However, you can usually get around that by letting people know what you’d be using it towards like a new car, a vacation, a tattoo or other want on your wishlist. This helps put their cash gift into perspective.

Ask for Specific Gift Cards, Consumables or Subscriptions

In the case that your family cannot comprehend the idea of not getting you a holiday present, ask for gift cards at specific stores that you are certain you will use, like for the grocery store or your favourite clothing line. You could also ask for something consumable like your grandmother’s famous lasagna or a friend’s favourite sangria mix. Candles, cosmetics, bath and shower items, smart light bulbs, etc … get creative. Finally, subscriptions like Audible, Kindle, Spotify, Netflix, etc … are other great options if your family and friends are insistent on getting you a holiday present.

White Lies for Charity

Another option is to ask your family and friends for gifts that you know local charities – perhaps shelter both human and animal – are looking for as donations. Coats, socks, shoes, hygiene products, towels, etc… At Christmas, open these presents with a smile on your face and then go ahead and drop them off at a location you know will deeply appreciate them. If this doesn’t sit well with you, ask your family member or friend to make a donation to that charity on your behalf.

Arrange a Gift Exchange

Instead of surrendering to purchasing many gifts for family and friends, see if you can encourage a Gift Exchange where everyone brings one gift and leaves with one gift. Not only is this economical and simple, it can also be great fun depending on what method you use for distribution.

Request an Experience or a Service 

Instead of asking for things, ask for experiences from family and friends. With some brainstorming you could end up with: a day at the zoo, a cooking class, massage, tickets to a sports event, a horseback riding adventure day, movie tickets, hobby workshops like glass blowing or pottery and more. Likewise, you could ask for a service – someone to clean your house or inspect your vehicle.

As mentioned previously, enjoying a very merry minimalist Christmas doesn’t have only to do with gift-giving and receiving, it also has to do with taking on a state of mind that supports your wellbeing. Here are some HALO tips for releasing stress and embracing a Minimalist Christmas.

Skip Events with Extra Expenses 

Although some holiday parties come with little to no price tag, others can come with a hefty one. If you are invited to an Ugly Sweater Party but do not have an ugly sweater – perhaps pass on the event instead of buying yourself a sweater to attend. Alternatively, you could borrow a sweater from a friend so that you do not end up accumulating something you will not wear. However, if you absolutely love themed parties there is no need to skip them. Minimalism is doing the things you love, it is about orienting yourself towards the things that make you supremely happy.

Release Yourself from Gift Guilt 

One of the things people report finding frustrating about receiving even personalised gifts is the obligation to keep them. No matter how much we may not use them, like them or need them, we keep them packed away (or perhaps on display) because of the guilt associated with the idea of donating or throwing them away. We need to release ourselves from this gift guilt and do with the gift what best suits our mental health and wellbeing.

Your Holidays, Your Terms 

At the end of the day, having yourself a minimalist Christmas is about enjoying the holiday on your terms. Perhaps this means downsizing the gifts you give or receive, skipping that tedious and draining holiday party or skipping the tiresome tradition of writing Christmas cards. Whatever your concessions, be sure to give yourself some kindness and cut yourself some slack! Be happy. Be comfortable. Enjoy as stress free a holiday as you can – you deserve to give that gift to yourself. Do not participate in the things where discomfort outweighs joy and, of course, Happy Upcoming Holidays from HALO!