Sometimes the holidays catch us by surprise. Suddenly we’re buying dozens of gifts online and throwing out hundreds of papers and wrappers when they get delivered. Finding peace in all of the overconsumption is nearly impossible. Here’s how to live your life and thrive during the holidays, while keeping sustainability in mind.
Give experiences, not just stuff
If you’re on the look out for the perfect gift for someone you love, try giving them the gift of experience. Concert tickets or tickets to a show at a local theatre are just as valuable as the expensive items, and they show the recipient how much you know them.
Gifting a lesson or a masterclass membership can also be meaningful, because you’re gifting them a new skill or hobby.
Shop local
Locally-sourced gifts are also great. They are ethically-sourced, quality products from a local vendor. The world is a small town, you can find something amazing right next door.
Regifting
While upcycling something from the thrift shop might not be up everyone’s alley, it could certainly be for someone in your life. In this article, Martha Stewart gives plenty of gift ideas that you can make from a second-hand item.
Bowls can become candles, chipped dishes could become a mosaic, even repainting a second-hand frame and putting original artwork inside could work. There are so many possibilities!
Donate
The holidays are hard for those that live with less than what they need. Donate your unused foods to shelters or food pantries. Take this time to clean out your own home, as well. We gather so much clutter throughout the year, and we tend to collect more around the holidays, too.
Taking clothes or items you no longer use to a thrift store can feel wonderful. You’ve had a great time with that item, and now someone else can too. Even this feeling is a gift.
Plantable and eco-friendly cards
If your family sends holiday cards, consider going an eco-friendly route. Ditch the paper and send someone a plantable card. Companies like Botanical Paperworks allow customers to buy plantable seed paper, or create their own design for a card or invitation.
This way, you’re still sending your loved ones your love, but you’re also planting trees or flowers along the way.
Reclamation 