Holidays are a time to be amongst people we love, celebrate, and express gratitude. But lately, a heavier focus on consumerism has been brought to the holiday season. From the early starts to the holiday season to seemingly never-ending advertisements, instead of feeling joy and togetherness, I’m stuck feeling stressed and I’m not the only one. More than 50% of Americans state that they feel increased anxiety during the holidays.
The holidays now feel daunting and the pressure to increasingly consume is overwhelming. We’re told we need the most trendy seasonal décor, plentiful food, big gifts for everyone – you name it. We travel, decorate, feast, and gift because there’s this perceived expectation that consumerism makes the holidays.
Social media and more clever adverts have brought about the commodification of experiences and the holidays are no exception. Because of this, we’re ramping up the waste we create. For example, Americans on average throw away 25% more trash during the holidays! An alarming 33% more food is thrown out during the holiday season too. Just gift wrap alone can amount to 40 million tons of waste each year! Those figures are shocking and only further prove how unsustainable the holiday season has become.
It’s time we reframe things, address our habits, and increase consumer responsibility. We have agency and the power to lessen consumption and not fall prey to trend cycles. The holidays don’t have to be stressful or wasteful! Let’s discuss some solutions to holiday overconsumption that can make a huge difference to the environment, your wallet, and your sanity. I’m here to take the guesswork out of how to have a sustainable holiday season, so let’s get into it!
Bring intention.
A huge pitfall during the holidays is the inclination to overspend or overextend. We’re bombarded with advertising, sales, and the illusion that products and purchases are what make the holidays. Unfortunately, this is all superficial and steers us towards wastefulness. But, we’re not products of consumerism!
The stuff we buy, no matter how cheap, has a bigger footprint than we realize. Partaking in holiday cheer doesn’t need to be expensive or wasteful, just meaningful. The holidays are the perfect time to try and exude coziness, but you can bring intentionality without excess. So, put purposeful thought into your actions during the holiday season.
Don’t buy gifts for the sake of having something to give, think about what that person would actually want and use. Don’t go out and buy trendy holiday décor because you saw it on social media. Instead, take a pause and think “Do I want this for the sake of having it or does this bring greater value?”. The holidays don’t depend on the cheap goods we can buy, instead, we can bring intention for more meaning during the holidays.
How to bring intention for a sustainable holiday season:
- Be realistic and thoughtful with gifts.
- Repurpose or reuse what you already have.
- Choose experiences instead of things.
- Focus on quality over quantity.
Focus on longevity.
Americans love single-use and disposable products. For the holidays, that means disposable tableware, single-use décor, and plastic galore. Furthermore, corporations tell us through constant ads and messaging that we should get new things each holiday season. Unfortunately, this mindset brings about huge financial and social pressure.
You think you’re getting a deal and consuming mindfully, but truthfully corporations are creative in pushing you to buy. Cheaper-priced things are alluring and I know that not everyone has the means to always invest in better pieces (I certainly don’t) so it can be hard to resist. Instead of partaking in single-use or trendy products, go for things you’ll be able to reuse for years to come. Slower consumption makes for better and more long-lasting buys. It also helps to get creative with the stuff you already have.
Focusing on longevity helps lessen the overall impact of the holiday goods we’re buying while also giving a second life to things we may have previously thrown out. As long as you’re focused on the big picture, that is utilizing what you buy to its full capacity for the long haul, it lessens the impact and helps prevent overspending during a time that is designed to get you to overbuy. All-in-all it diverts waste from the landfill and helps lessen resource consumption during a typically wasteful time of year.
How to focus on longevity during the holidays:
- Reuse gift wrap and gift bags.
- Repurpose old décor.
- Use reusable tableware for your holiday parties.
- Thrift holiday specific items like decorations, sweaters, and mugs.
Reexamine "necessities".
Something called “The Christmas Creep” has taken over, retailers are now talking about holiday deals and spending in September, but in some cases August or earlier! In other cases, we’re also seeing increased personalized promotions designed to get us into the “spirit” of spending for the holidays. Haul culture has also made it harder to distinguish need from want which has led to an increase in impulse purchases. But, honestly, do we really need the stuff they’re trying to sell us?
A lifestyle of consumption is the norm but it’s just a way to keep us poor and falsely engaged. Instead, choose yourself over the products we’re trying to be sold. Trim unnecessary spending and redirect it. By turning away from unfocused consumption, you can bring more peace and financial security to your life. Use that money for things that will be more meaningful in the long term instead of buying things impulsively!
Buying things we don’t need is just a product of the consumerist convenience culture we live in now. Let’s get out of the habit of thoughtless buying, after all, we can’t buy our way to a more sustainable world. We need space to think about other things that matter, not just the things we buy.
- Unsubscribe from store newsletters to avoid bombardment by advertising and sales.
- Avoid specialty items that aren’t made to last.
- Utilize lists to prevent over-buying.
- Try to buy less overall.
Stay mindful.
Along with bringing intention to the holidays, we can also be mindful. That is, be mindful of the overarching effects of our actions and find ways to align them with our values. The holidays don’t have to be a wasteful time, but to counteract this we can’t ignore what the impact of our actions are. You don’t have to be a Scrooge, but you can be mindful!
So, be conscious of the impact cheap trendy décor has on the planet and choose alternatives accordingly if it’s important to you to decorate. Be mindful of the materials you’re using for your gift-giving and holiday parties and opt for things that can be composted or recycled. Don’t buy a ton of extra food “just in case” because odds are most will get thrown away in this case. For sustainable holidays, awareness is key.
Next time you want to buy that trendy tree candle or new holiday baubles, really dissect why you want it. If you don’t think beyond deals and holiday expectations you’ll be going in circles. We must reevaluate our consumption habits to avoid just switching up what we’re buying, instead, we need to be looking at how we buy and use things. Bring thought to your wants and actions and choose better options.
How to stay mindful this holiday season:
- Shop locally and seasonally.
- Be realistic about the amount of food you need for an event.
- Compost and recycle instead of sending everything to landfill.
- Choose more plant-based food options.
Go for homemade.
I think one of the best ways we can reincorporate the true meaning of the holiday season is by doing more things ourselves. It’s also a great way to express gratitude, I mean, you’re putting your time and effort into creating something! Doing things for yourself can bring a different sense of satisfaction and self-expression, after all.
Not only does this typically lessen waste, but it also helps save money. For example, instead of buying a garland for $20+, you can make one for under $10! You save money and reduce wasteful resource use while being able to let your creativity boom. If the idea of this is too daunting, take on smaller projects because even small actions can have a big impact!
It’s no surprise that things like disposable holiday plates and napkins, tinsel, and other specialty items that’ll only be used once are quite wasteful. Yet, by making more things yourself you’ll pave the way for better experiences and more opportunities to make memories without adding to that waste. That instills the true meaning of the holiday season and overall is an amazing way to make for a sustainable holiday season.
- Make your holiday snacks and treats instead of buying pre-packaged ones.
- Utilize simmer pots to cultivate coziness without synthetic fragrances and plastic.
- Set up a warm drink bar at home instead of going out for holiday drinks.
- Host potlucks to make holiday parties more manageable and less wasteful.
- Diy decorations with less wasteful or more natural materials.
We can take the wastefulness out of the holidays! It's time for a more sustainable holiday season.
The holidays bring appreciation, togetherness, and joy but are also a time when cooking, decorating, hosting, and shopping can get excessive. Yet the culture behind the holidays shouldn’t be to consume. Luckily, by following these tips it’s possible to incorporate slow living and purpose back into the holidays. The bottom line is to utilize your creativity and focus on materials and practices that have the lowest impact.
The holiday season requires plenty of forethought, planning, and effort in execution. But by putting these tips into practice you can incorporate sustainable solutions into the holidays and be better off for it. It’s time we start being conscious of our actions, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up doing things we like. You don’t need to be perfect, but being mindful and doing what you can will pave the way for a brighter future.