I absolutely adore the holiday season. Seriously, I’m the kind of person who starts playing holiday tunes in November and sets up decorations before Thanksgiving even rolls around. Some years, I may even leave certain festive items up long after the season has ended—mostly due to sheer laziness.
However, there’s one aspect of the holidays that doesn’t bring me joy – the sheer volume of gifts. Before you go calling me a Grinch, let me clarify: I love giving and receiving presents. But what I can’t stand is the excess. I’m more inclined towards a simple, minimalist approach to Christmas rather than an extravagant affair.
This year, you won’t find many packages under our tree. In fact, this has been a gradual shift we’ve embraced over the last few years. After a few eye-opening experiences post-holiday—where the pile of presents resembled something out of a viral social media post—I realized that less really is more.
My family used to celebrate Christmas in a big way. It wasn’t just about our immediate circle; gifts poured in from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even second cousins. There were times when we couldn’t fit all the loot into our van in one trip. Our vehicle was packed to the brim with toys, clothes, and trinkets that cluttered our home for weeks afterward. It created a cycle of pre-holiday stress and post-holiday letdown, as nothing saps the holiday spirit quite like the anxiety of clutter, mounting credit card bills, and guilt over rampant consumerism.
I’ve come to realize I’m somewhat of a minimalist at heart. Clutter gives me serious anxiety. Just glancing at a room overflowing with items makes my chest tighten. Over the years, we’ve experimented with various methods to downsize our holiday frenzy into something more manageable and enjoyable. Some strategies worked, while others fizzled out. For example, we’ve had success with a “not-so-secret Santa” gift exchange among siblings and their children, where we give a small gift along with a donation to a cause that resonates with the recipient.
However, the idea of eliminating gifts altogether never really gained traction—surprise, surprise. People love giving gifts, especially grandparents who delight in watching their grandkids unwrap surprises. Gift-giving is a way to express affection and thoughtfulness, and I can’t bring myself to skip giving small tokens to aunts, uncles, and cousins. While there’s a sense of obligation, it’s also about the joy of sharing something special.
But here’s the good news: we can still move away from Big Christmas and embrace a more streamlined Holiday Lite. This might mean fewer gifts overall, but it also signifies more meaningful experiences instead of material possessions. I’m a huge proponent of giving experiences—like museum memberships, family getaways, or cooking classes—because they minimize post-holiday clutter, and science supports this notion. Research indicates that experiences foster gratitude, which is what we should aim to instill in our children and ourselves.
According to studies from Cornell University, people feel more thankful for experiences than material possessions, leading to more generous behaviors. And let’s face it: experiences often bring about deeper happiness than any toy or gadget can. An Oxford University study even revealed that young children’s academic success is more influenced by their home environment and parental interactions than by the toys they receive.
In fact, an abundance of toys can lead to feelings of overwhelm and dissatisfaction—precisely the opposite of the joy we seek when giving gifts. Experts suggest that experiences foster happiness because they are unique and not easily comparable to material goods. As Joseph Goodman, an associate professor at Washington University, notes, creating memorable experiences often requires deep understanding of what someone enjoys, making the gift more personal.
Plus, opting for experiences rather than plastic toys helps reduce environmental impact, making it a win-win situation. This year, we’re sticking to our trend of gifting experiences over things, and our extended family appears to be on board too. Instead of an array of electronics and toys, we’ll exchange camp registrations, plan a family vacation, and get tickets to a sporting event. We’ll also make donations in each other’s names to causes we care about, ensuring that our time together is cherished.
So yes, there may be fewer packages under the tree this Christmas morning, but there will certainly be more meaningful gifts.
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Summary:
This year, our holiday approach focuses on meaningful experiences rather than an abundance of material gifts. By prioritizing shared moments and donations over excessive consumerism, we aim to create a more fulfilling holiday atmosphere, fostering gratitude and joy in our family.
Keyphrase: holiday experiences instead of gifts
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