Choosing to have a mindful Christmas can help you, and others, connect to the true essence of this special time of year. With all the rush and hurry, it’s easy to go on autopilot and overspend. But a mindful Christmas can be much more meaningful, helping you to connect thoughtfully with others. Plus, you’ll save more of your hard-earned cash.
In order to be open to receiving – gifts, generosity, family – on Christmas Day, the month of December should be spent clearing space and energy, letting things go. However, Christmas can also bring with it a lot of pressure in terms of gift-giving and socialising and we can accumulate a lot of items we don’t want or need. My job is to help my clients de-clutter their lives, both physically and emotionally, and Christmas can create a lot of physical and emotional clutter!
That’s why I’ve put together my top tips to help you have a more conscious Christmas:
1. ‘Who is this for?’
You’ve no doubt, at some point in your life, received a strange Christmas present, with no idea why the gift-giver has bought it for you. Often gift-giving can be more about the person giving the gift, than the person it’s meant for (as you can tell, I’m not a huge fan of buying people stuff just for the hell of it). So, before you pop that item in the trolley – ask who it’s really for. Are you buying them something they will want and use, or are you buying it because it’s something YOU’D really like?
2. Ask
Back in the 80s, we’d flick through catalogues and circle things we wanted. Nowadays we have Amazon wishlists, and each member of the family can have their own and make it shareable. You can take the guesswork out of gift-giving by asking your family members what they’d really like to receive so nothing gets wasted. Perhaps there’s something they’d really like, but it’s a bit more expensive. If so, you could suggest other family members club together to buy a joint present. Money isn’t wasted, the gift is thoughtful and the recipient is happy!
3. Simple is often best
A couple of things I encourage my clients to do throughout the year are journaling and creating lists. It helps create clarity, direction and stay organised. It’s a great way to declutter your mind and energy. Gifting a beautiful notepad and pen may sound simple, but for many people, it’s a heartfelt and useful gift. They can use it to write down their goals for next year, decide what they want to change in their lives, and write down their innermost thoughts. The good news for you is it won’t break the bank, and the good news for them is that both items are consumable, allowing them to one day easily be decluttered.
4. Time is valuable
It doesn’t cost you actual money, but giving the gift of your time can be life-changing for the recipient. For example, you could offer a special day trip to your nieces and nephews to give their parents some much-appreciated time off. You could gift your neighbour two hours of your time to help them in the garden, or you could offer your valuable business skills to a friend that’s looking to set up as self-employed. Gift them an IOU of sorts, which you will honour before a certain date.
5. Regift from the heart
Regifting is a divisive topic, but in my opinion, it reduces the guilt of having something you won’t use. Plus it’s more environmentally friendly and saves you money. As a decluttering expert, I’m passionate about finding unwanted gifts new, happy homes. You can regift bottles of wine that aren’t to your taste, vintage jewelry like rings that you no longer wear, perfume, even duplicate gifts . I’ve often received a present and thought “That’s not for me, BUT I know who would love it”, and held onto it to regift for their birthday. By regifting, you are making sure that it goes to the right recipient who will really appreciate it. Obviously, you need to keep track of your gifts and regifts – you wouldn’t want to give them back to the original person by mistake!
6. ‘Do I really need this?’
Traditionally, Boxing Day is about charitable giving – a fantastic way to declutter – yet in recent years it has become more about shopping. Boxing Day should really be about sitting in the receiving energy from Christmas Day, focusing on gratitude and appreciation, and allowing the space you’ve created throughout the month to exist. If you find yourself getting up at the crack of dawn to tackle the Boxing Day sales, ask yourself ‘Why am i buying this?’ ‘Do I really need this?’ Is the purchase planned and waited for, or is it filling a hole of some description?
These tips will help you be more mindful when spending this Christmas, and make sure the gifts under the tree are the things your loved ones REALLY want to hang on to. Get ready to start the new year fresh and clear with a clutter-free Christmas!
Written by Carolyn Creel
Carolyn Creel is known as ‘The Clairvoyant Cleaner’ and is the founder of the CLEAR Method. www.carolyncreel.com She uses her intuitive gifts to help people declutter their past and step into a bright new future.
