The holidays may be the most stressful time of the year. Not to mention, if you are anything like me, December has to be one of the worst months of the year.
Snow. cold, and lack of sunlight leaves me down in the dumps and feeling depressed. And then, to throw things into the mix, we add the pressures of family get-togethers and gift buying. Fun for some, but not for me — most years I’d be happy skipping the holidays altogether.
So, over the years I’ve sort of refined the holiday experience and tried to make it less painful. I’ve made an effort to simplify the holidays as much as possible.
I’ve done my best to streamline the gift-giving process and [amongst some hurt feelings] bowed out of a few get-togethers. And although it’s left a bad taste in a few of my family member’s mouths, I’ve been able to get through nearly 40 Christmases without putting a gun to my head or becoming a complete drunkard.
This is the minimalist guide to simplifying the holidays. Ideas on creating a holiday experience with less stress, less consumerism, and more happiness.
How to Simplify the Holidays
Prioritize the Essential
The first step in simplifying the holidays is figuring out which traditions you find value in. What things do you and your family do during this time of year that are considered essential?
Once you’ve determined which traditions you enjoy, you can begin to weed out the ones you don’t.
Some traditions are merely traditions for the sake of — that’s what we do every year.
Have a conversation with your family and make a plan of what events are going to continue and which ones are not. Do your best to stick to your values and the things you and your family find essential.
Say No
Here’s where your values come into play. It’s okay to say no to parties and invites. The holidays are a busy time of year and you don’t have to go to everything.
Yes, some noses may be bent, but, considering all of the stress and busyness surrounding the holidays it may be good for your overall well-being to skip out on some of these things.
Over the years I have found that the most stressful part of the holidays is the never-ending holiday parties that are considered ‘must-attend events.’
I’ve limited the number of things I go to which has relieved a lot of pressure. My wife and son have been understanding of my decision, and for the most part, there haven’t been too many hurt feelings.
If family get-togethers and office parties are stressful for you, have a polite conversation, and explain your thoughts to family and coworkers. Make it known that the holiday season would be more enjoyable for you if some of these events were trimmed down.
Set Boundaries
It’s important to set boundaries and let others know what those boundaries are. This is crucial during the holidays.
For example, let friends and family know about your family’s traditions. Make sure they understand when you and your family are available for get-togethers and parties. If your family stays home on a certain holiday let others know this.
You and your family’s traditions are uniquely yours and non-negotiable.
Declutter First
Like most homes, ours gets inundated with things during the holiday season. Food, decorations, and gifts quickly fill the place up.
One trick that I’ve found to be useful is to declutter before the holiday season begins.
Starting in November, I declutter the house and cut down on excess belongings. This way when the holiday season begins, excess things aren’t quite so overwhelming. It’s a basic tip, but it helps.
Plan Ahead
Don’t do anything last minute. Plan ahead and get as many preparations out of the way as early as possible.
Ideally, everything within reason should be set and ready at least one week before your holiday celebrations.
Get the shopping and gift wrapping out of the way and prepare holiday dishes and food ahead of time [when possible]. Also, take care of any loose ends at your place of work if you’re planning on taking time off.
In my opinion, the holidays should be restful and a time to recharge before the new year. Closing mental loops and making sure things are set will allow you to be present and more relaxed.
Shop Mindfully and Efficiently
Shopping has to be one of the worst things about the entire holiday ordeal.
Like seriously, who the hell wants to go out and shop on Black Friday? What sort of sicko enjoys that sort of mental trauma? Who would even want to be near that many low-quality humans the day after Thanksgiving?
Okay, before I start getting angry emails – I’m kidding and I know, some people enjoy it.
But seriously, don’t fall into the trap of consumerism. Skip the Black Friday sales and shop online as much as possible. Going to the stores during the holiday season is madness and you have better ways to spend your time.
Holiday sales are designed to get you to spend your hard-earned money. But come January, you’re going to have to face the bills, the clutter, and the empty feeling of the grind, all to pay for things bought during the holidays.
Ask yourself — Is this worth it?
My advice is to be intentional when shopping and shop as little as possible.
Give Better Gifts
Instead of shopping, give better gifts. Thoughtful gifts that express love and appreciation are always well received. Not to mention cheaper, and in most cases, you don’t have to go shopping for them.
Here are some ideas.
- A promise of help on a project. Spring cleaning, painting, cutting the grass, etc.
- Homemade items like baked goods, crafts, etc.
- Assistance with something you’re an expert in. Think of the things you are good at. Are you good with computers? Home repairs? Cooking? Etc.
- An item from around the house you no longer enjoy but others might.
- An experience like hiking, a summer BBQ, or a day at the beach.
The idea is to think outside of the box and come up with things that are unique and don’t require mindless spending — and shopping.
Talk to People About Gifts
Receiving gifts is hard. just hard. Especially if you are a minimalist or a basic picky human. And sometimes, people just don’t get it.
Like, you have to beg these freaks to not get you things.
The important thing is to talk to people about your lifestyle and expectations. If you don’t want to be inundated with useless crap, give others better ideas of things you may need and things you can use.
I tend to ask for things that I know I will need and make it clear to others that I don’t want or enjoy useless stuff.
Here are some ideas.
- Gifts of alcohol [always appreciated and never wasted]
- A donation in your name to a charity.
- Clothes, household items, and anything you’re planning on purchasing yourself.
- A gift certificate to your favorite restaurant, hair salon, auto repair shop, or any other place you regularly spend money.
- Any sort of experience.
Simplifying the Holidays
Just like in everyday life, the key to simplifying the holidays is figuring out what you value and saying no to things that you don’t. It’s about prioritizing the essentials and cutting out the rest.
If parties aren’t your thing – say no. If you don’t want gifts — say no to them as well. If the chaos becomes too much — eliminate the chaos by simply saying no to it.
Let go of the things you don’t find value in and the things that stress you out. A good strategy for the holidays and life in general.
Thanks for reading. I hope you found value in this post.
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