4 Tips to Give Your Holiday More Meaning with Less Consuming!
When I was growing up, I had a relative who would always collect everyone’s wrapping paper after we opened gifts – not to throw it away, but to save and reuse the next year. I recall others whispering about what a cheapskate she was, but I kind of liked it. Even better was when she used the Sunday comics to wrap a gift, or decorated a package beautifully with pine cones from her yard.
As a mother, I worry a lot about the effect of having too much “stuff” on my children. Not to mention the environment and my own bank account! It’s no secret that excess consumption (around the holidays in particular) is a way of life for many people, whether it be in the form of eating, drinking or spending more than we have. What are the reasons for this? Whether it be to fill a void, to distract yourself from your feelings, or just to keep up with the Joneses, the consequences can be dire and long-lasting. I saw a shirt that said “It’s not the holidays unless you push yourself to the brink of alcoholism and diabetes.” It would be funnier if it weren’t so true.
So how can we scale it back?
1. Budget. Budget your spending, your calories, and most importantly, your time. Decide well in advance what priorities are most important when it comes to attending holiday events. Choose just a few as a family so that you can make sure you have time to breathe and just hang out at home.
2. Gift-giving. Don’t be afraid to buck traditions and forgo gift-giving with extended family and friends. Failing that, start donating to charitable organizations in lieu of a gift. There are many reputable charities that will even provide cards and greetings to the giftee. When it comes to your own children, it can be more difficult to control your impulses, of course. One idea is to follow this rhyme – “Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read.”
3. Practice gratitude, especially of those non-material things that you and your family have. Make a conscious effort each day to notice these things and appreciate them.
4. Savor each moment while being assured that you are going into the new year in the best shape possible – physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially!
Leslie Donner, LPP is a therapist at Compass Counseling in Paducah, Ky. Jenny specializes in counseling with women. If you would like to read her full profile, click here.