Less Is More This Holiday Season
A lot of people across the world are exploring what minimalism and a sustainable approach can do for our planet and for our life. However, the holiday season may be a time when we give in to excesses, and understandably so, find it difficult to strike a balance.
Christmas this year may be different for a lot of reasons as several countries across Europe are experiencing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases. On the other hand, so many are looking forward to taking that flight back home and having the comfort of a Christmas dinner with the entire family reunited, and room at the table for friends and neighbours as well.
How do we strike a balance in these circumstances, finding ways to have fun, rejoice with family but also explore how less can translate into more even while we are celebrating?
Sometimes a couple of numbers and figures drive home the point for us, reaffirming what we already know but perhaps don’t want to say it aloud. According to the European Commission’s website, in the EU, around 88 million tonnes of food waste are generated annually. And it is no surprise that Christmas is a time of the year when many of us prepare more food than we can possibly consume. Here are some points to mull over if you want to embrace a Christmas that is more relaxed and lower on excesses:
The world will not end – if you miss one party or need to say no to attending one. It’s the festive season and invitations are pouring in. Apart from the Christmas dinner at work, there are also talks of a few colleagues catching up for drinks at the local pub. Then there’s that coffee and mince pies invite on WhatsApp to which you haven’t yet responded. You are also trying to book a small getaway but it’s also tempting to say yes to your neighbour and chaperone the children to the city centre to see the lights being turned on. While it is true that a lot of us get a good week and more off during the festive period, there are simply too many things to do. If we try doing them all, we may return to our workplaces and to the New Year tired and spent. It may as well as be, depending on where you reside, that many Christmas dinners and get-togethers are cancelled in light of the Covid-19 situation. If these are, do not fret. We have a lifetime and more Christmases waiting for us. It is better to have one or two dinners and use the festive time to rest, rejuvenate and reflect on things, rather than trying to do it all.
The to-do lists – remember that you are human, and you may not accomplish every little thing on your festive list. You can also try to make a list that is more realistic, one that doesn’t sap off all your energy.
The food on the table – there’s no need that it should look straight out of a coffee table book or a magazine. Often we spend loads, buying different ingredients, treats and sweets. And it often is the case that at the end of the Christmas meal there are so many leftovers, and either you are bored and don’t want to eat these leftovers for the rest of the week, or already have other dinner commitments to go to. The food is ultimately binned, and the ingredients stored away – never to be used again.
Sometimes there are so many starters that we have no appetite left for the main course. Less is indeed more in this sense. Save your time, effort and money by opting for simpler meals. Not all festive meals have to be complicated or expensive. Supermarkets will offer enticing discounts but ask yourself if you are going to be able to use all the groceries on time or have adequate space in your refrigerator to store them properly. Plus, when you are buying mince pies and desserts, take into account that some guests will arrive with wine and puddings, and how many sweet treats can you realistically eat?
I understand that we all are driven by the fear of what is known as ‘an empty fridge,’ that we won’t have enough for guests and family. But Christmas is not necessarily about a table laden and overflowing with food and drink as it is about being able to celebrate together, and to be able to share love, generosity and goodwill with others.
Gifts and wrapping them all – now this one may sound a tad off-putting but consider this. There is so much of gifting that is regifted (passed on to someone else), dumped or used only once that we can try and be mindful about what we give and what we ask for. Does your friend really need that chocolate treat box? Are you certain that she hasn’t already received five others of a similar kind from acquaintances in her circle? And does she really like tea biscuits or cookies?
We all have an inner circle in our life – people with whom we can be honest with. If you ask them, they may be very happy to have you donate on behalf of them – for planting a tree, to a charity or even put aside money to be spent on a Christmas gift, and club it with their birthday present instead. For a work-based Christmas gift exchange last year, my husband got a card which revealed that his Secret Santa had donated in his name to an animal shelter. My husband was actually relieved. I don’t need more vases or cookie hampers, he said. It made sense.
Another friend who is a genius when it comes to packing gifts decided this year that she was only going to use old newspapers and recycled paper for wrapping gifts.
I love the colour, pattern and glitter of wrapping papers, and the rustle of one when you open a gift, but I read an article about the amount of paper that goes to landfill, and I am changing my approach, she confided in me. She has started saving old bouquets and uses dry flowers and petals from these to glamour up her gifts. So please don’t worry if you haven’t gift wrapped all your gifts or bought everyone a sweet treat. It may also be a good idea to leave gift bags without using up their name tags, leaving a small note inside the gift box instead so that the bags can be reused.
When you are thinking of buying gifts – pause and ask. You may be surprised with how honest and thoughtful many people can be. One of my closest friends said to me – “Help me this year by assisting me to stick to my resolve of a no-gifts year. I have enough. I don’t need any more kitchen gadgets, clothes or shoes.” When I asked if there was anything I could do at all just as a means to be grateful for our health and wellbeing over the past year, she replied that she would be happy to borrow a book from my collection, one that I recommended. Or send her links to some of the reads that I had particularly enjoyed.
A measure of our love – is not in how much we spend on gifts, or how stocked our pantries are, or how laden with food and wine the party tables are. While there is a lot of peer pressure to buy jewellery, electronic goods, the best wine and cheese, to host the perfect party, remember that what we do for our partners, friends and family goes much beyond that and is not limited to the festive period. Teaming up with your partner on a regular basis in clearing the table, handwashing delicate glassware, and doing the laundry may mean much more than an expensive trinket or a fancy gadget.
Being consistent and considerate throughout the year in your relationships does work better than aiming for a lavish dinner party for the New Year. Of course, we all love pretty things, and lunches and dinners where we can lay out our best chinaware, garnish our food with edible flowers or indulge in some décor are all little pleasures of life. But these needn’t come at the cost of your wellbeing. And it certainly doesn’t mean that you have to go beyond your budget in trying to get the gifts, food, and treats in order. Once you set the precedent, you will realise that people will actually love you for your simple but wholesome approach to the festive season and to gift giving. They will also appreciate your honesty and thought behind budgeting what you spend on food and drink, and the small but meaningful measures you adopt in curbing holiday excesses.
