Tis the season! You hear the jingle bells, the scent of pine is in the air, the lights are twinkling, and you shopping list is growing. During this time of year, we are faced with balancing the joy holidays bring with the pressure of meeting obligations and expectations.
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​While consumption is necessary, sometimes it feels like all the shopping, eating, and finding the perfect decor overshadows the true meaning behind our special days. It's time to take a step back and analyze if our consumptive practices are still serving us.

A special day is any day of significance in a person or family’s life that is celebrated or otherwise acknowledged. This acknowledgment can be once in a lifetime, annually, or at regular intervals.

These special days general include:
- Weddings and anniversaries
- The birth of a child and birthdays
- Funerals
- Rites of passage like bar and bat mitzvahs and quinceañeras
- First day of school
- Reunions
- All the holidays

Since we are in peak consumption season, we mostly focus on holidays, but most of the topics will apply to other special days as well.

Discussing consumption is key during this time of the year because it’s easy to get wrapped up in things we have to do and gifts we have to buy, and we lose sight of what’s important about these special days. And worse, we might realize too late that we’re really not enjoying ourselves. Check out our episode on traditions to learn more about how to use creativity to update your holiday traditions.

One of the first things we like to do at The Everyday Creative when tackling an issue is to bring some awareness. We all recognized that consumption during the holidays has reached astronomical levels, but some of these statistics are truly shocking.

The goal is not to completely avoid consumption, it’s to avoid overconsumption. Find the balance that’s right for you and those you celebrate these special days with. To help you find that balance, we can look at consumption as a spectrum - The Santa Claus-Grinch Spectrum of Consumption.

At one end you have Santa Claus. He’s all about giving everyone toys, eating all the cookies, and full blown merriment all the time. At the opposite you have The Grinch. No one gets toys. He doesn’t decorate and sits by himself on Mount Crumpit scowling when he hears Christmas carols.

It's unlikely you are at the extreme ends and fall somewhere in between. Figure out where you fall on the spectrum to ensure your full enjoyment of your special days.

To find our place on the spectrum of consumption, we need to look at our individual areas of consumption and ask critical questions. First, our areas of consumption.

This category includes all the special meals, desserts, sugary beverages, alcohol, party foods, and things you don't normally eat or drink in your day-to-day life. Almost everyone has some version of the aunt that batch-bakes gingerbread men by the thousands. Maybe you eat them because you look forward to them and they are delicious. Or maybe you eat them out of obligation. Either way, the result is the same - a sugar-induced food coma. 

During the season of gift giving, everyone gets a gift: family, friends, co-workers, bonuses for service workers, hostess gifts, obligatory reciprocated gifts. 

In this catch-all category we include decorations, cards, wrapping paper, extra electricity usage, and extra fuel for travel.

As you go through each category, consider the specific ways in which you consume.
Consumption at its core is fine and necessary in many cases. It’s not a statement of morality. It’s about adhering to your values, achieving the outcomes you want, and doing what feels right for you.

Engage in the consumptive activities that help you enjoy the special days without tipping into what feels like overconsumption for you.

Overconsumption can have some negative consequences.
- Increased stress to find the perfect gift
- Financial stress from spending too much on everything
- The stress of receiving
- Not everyone has health-related goals, but if you do, veering off your eating plan or not exercising makes you feel like a failure. And even if you don’t, it doesn’t feel great to overeat or drink too much (hello hangover).
- Environment destruction

So, how do you strike your balance on the Santa Claus-Grinch Spectrum of Consumption? That tricky Goldilocks point where you feel like you’ve enjoyed the special day and simultaneously not feel like you’re deprived or that you’ve overindulged?

The goal is intentional consumption. Sometimes this is referred to as mindful consumption, conscious consumption, responsible consumption, or conscientious consumerism. Pick the moniker that works for you.

All this is easier when you know your values. Your values are principles and beliefs guides your decisions and actions. To find yours, take this free assessment or check out our episode on Finding Your Values.

Once you find your values, the decisions around those tricky holiday dilemmas become easier to make. Here are some examples:
If you've identified financial stability as a value, it’s easier to set and keep to a budget when buying gifts.
If you know value health, it’s easier to keep to your workout schedule when things get hectic over the holidays.
If you know you value time with your family, it’s easier to plan simpler celebrations that allow you to actually spend the time with your family

Next, when finding your place on the spectrum, you'll want to ask yourself some questions.​

Identify what makes your special days feel special. Is it a certain dessert? Home decor? An event? For some, it may be Black Friday shopping. They find it to be an invigorating, family bonding experience.
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​Whatever that may be for you, identify it and prioritize. When it comes to pruning your holiday activities, you know that this is one thing that will stay.

You can ask yourself this question during the planning stages or in the moment of decision. Ask yourself, "What will my future self think about about the decisions that my current self is making?" Here are some examples:
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​You are doing your holiday gift shopping and you are choosing between a super expensive gift and a gift that is less expensive (but just a good), how will your future self feel about the credit card bill in January? Let that feeling guide your decision.
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​Or imagine you are at a New Year's Eve party and you're finishing your second glass of champagne. Do you go for a third? How will the you of tomorrow feel about the possible hangover? 

Everyone can identify something about special days that they find annoying, stressful, or that they simply don't enjoy. Obviously, these are things you want to avoid or mitigate their impact when planning your special days. 
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​If you dig deep enough to find the reason behind the negative feelings, you'll find these activities don't align with your values. Negative feelings arise when we are acting in ways that aren't aligned with how we want to live.

Now that we've done some soul searching, we can move on to practical tips. They all center around ways to reduce consumption or bring more mindfulness to your special days.

Stay off social media. Wait, we said practical tips, right? Complete social media abstinence is not practical. Consider taking breaks instead and be aware of how it makes you feel.
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​Identify your triggers. This could be seeing sales everywhere, feelings of sadness, or the smell of cinnamon in the air. Identify whatever it is that triggers you to respond in ways you would rather not. If you are aware of your triggers, you are better equipped to respond in a way you prefer rather than your default response (buy stuff, eat stuff, drink stuff, etc).
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​Set a budget. Think about all of your categories of spending during the holidays or for a special event (food, gifts, travel, decoration). Create a budget and then stick to it. Remember, when your resources are limited it will boost creativity. You get bonus points for setting up a budget months in advance and start saving.
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​Maintain your good habits. 
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​Schedule regular check-ins.

Food is so much more than calories, macros, or fuel for the body - especially around special days. It's how we show love, it's connection to our heritage and family, and it symbolizes celebration.
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​When this is ignored, you are preventing yourself from fully enjoying the holiday. This is especially true if food and drinks are an area that you've identified as critical to your enjoyments.
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​We'll approach finding balance from two sides: food waste and health.
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​You gotta plan. If you are throwing a party, make an accurate amount of food for the people attending. There are plenty of food estimators that help with this task. If you do have leftovers (which is inevitable) plan in advance how they will be used - lunch for the week, send home with guests, or give away to neighbors. Store your leftovers properly and be sure to label and date (especially if they are going in the freezer).
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​Tried and true recipes only. Experimenting in the kitchen is a great way to be creative, but right before a party you're throwing or a potluck you're attending may not be the best time. You run the risk of failed attempted being trashed or returning home with inedible food - all leads to an increase in food waste.
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​Composting. Composting is something great to do in everyday life. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, food waste will avoid ending up in a landfill.
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​The health side of things is a little trickier. The internet is full of "tips and tricks" to have a healthier holiday. The problem is these can feel like you're white-knuckling it just to make it to January 2nd. We'll try to avoid that here, but no guarantees...
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​Add the Big 3: Protein, Fiber, and Water. It easier to focus on what you can add to your diet, rather than what "should" be removed. High protein, fiber, and water foods are generally more filling and nutrient dense than other foods. Eat these foods first.
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​For example, if you are at a party faced with a table full of food, look for protein foods and high fiber foods likes meats, cheeses, veggies, fruits, and beans. Drink plenty of water (or other sugar-free beverages) and eat food that is hydrating like fruits and soups (is soup a party food?). Then go for chips, dips, breads, desserts, and alcoholic beverages.
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​Change your mindset. Many of us have an all-or-nothing mentality when it comes to diet. Neither end of the spectrum is a good way to approach the holidays. We are also not going for "everything in moderation." Moderation is a meaningless term. Moderation means different things to different people without a defined quantification for what a moderate amount of a specific food is.
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​We are going for balance. Find that goldilocks amount of food or drink that you can consume and still feel good. Do you still feel good after eating a cookie or two (or four)? Great! Stop eating while you still feel good.

A simply switch in your language can help with mindset. When refusing food, we often say, "I can't eat that." Instead, start saying, "I don't eat that." It's a more empowering statement. 
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​Eat slowly and mindfully. This is easier said than done in a party atmosphere, but worth a try. Eat slowly by chewing your food completely (like 20 or more chews) before your swallow. This is good advise for any time of year. Digestion starts in the mouth and you want to give it plenty of time to do its work. Don't have your next bite poised on your fork while you are still working on the first bite. And put your fork down between bites. 
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​To eat mindfully, savor each bite. Think about the smells, flavors and textures. If it's a food you don't eat often, you will get more enjoyment if you take your time.
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​The season of maintenance. If weight loss is one of your goals, considering the goal for the holidays is maintenance. On average, Americans gain between .8 to 2 pounds per year. On the surface, that doesn't seem too bad. The problem is this weight is never lost and we tack on more pounds during the next holiday season. Don't be a statistic. 
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​Eat what you want. The key here is to make sure you actually want it. Don't eat something out of obligation or guilt or simply because it's there. Eat what you want and only what you want. Then don't feel guilty about about it (easier said than done, we know).
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​Don't settle for "healthy" swaps. Whether it's keto, gluten-free, vegan, fat-free, whatever, a brownie is still a brownie. If these are foods you are only eating on special occasions, you'll feel more satisfied if you're eating the real thing. We are not speaking to those with legit allergies and intolerances. This is a completely separate situation. 
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​White-knuckle tips. What holiday guide would be complete with tips to help you just get through it. Most of these you've probably heard before:

One last thing. Stress eating or emotional eating might be something you struggle with during this season. It's important to be hypervigilant during this time. Keep up with your self-care routines and get help with managing it at the first sign of trouble.

Now, we'll move on to the topic of gift giving and how to curb consumption in this area. Here are some helpful tips:
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​Don't shop online. It's so easy to click and buy that we often end up overspending. Do all your shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. In person.
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​Buy with cash. Choosing to pay with cash puts a hard limit on what you can spend. Plus, it keeps you offline. 
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​Find sustainable tradeoffs. Shop at second-hand shops, re-gift things you never liked, shop local, and search for eco-friendly brands. Look for certifications like Certified B Corps, women-owned, 1% for the Planet, minority-owned, and Corporate Human Rights Benchmark.
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​Try DIY or homemade gifts. This is a great way to show your creativity side. Bake, knit, sculpt, paint, or draw. There are a lot of options in this category.
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​Consider experiences or services. Don't know what to get for the person who already has everything? An experience or service is perfect. A membership to a local museum, a brewery tour, a house cleaning service, a premium subscription to a podcast they like. So many choices!
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​Secret Santa. If you have a large family, buying gifts for every member gets expensive. Secret Santa - where everyone draws a name out of a hat and only buys for one person - can really save money.
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​No obligatory gifts. We've all been in the situation where a friend or coworkers gets us a gift and we don't have a gift to give in return. So, what do we do? Run out and buy a candle or lotion set that we can give them the next day. It's time to stop doing that. Just because someone gives you something, it does not obligate you to a reciprocal gift.
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​Have proactive conversations. When you talk to your friends and family about gift-giving expectations in advance, it's easier to manage. Everyone will know who's getting or not getting a gift. Less disappointment and guilt all around. 

What special day would be complete without all the extra stuff that comes along with it? It adds up. Here are a few tips to help with avoiding clutter and saving money:
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​Email cards and invitations. Sure it's nice to get real mail, but after the event it all goes in the trash. Plus, emailed invites make RSVPs much easier.
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​Decorate with nature. Dried leave and flowers or clippings from pine trees are all cheap ways to add seasonal flair to your living abode.
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​Second-hand decorations. Check your local Goodwill or Salvation Army (especially after the holidays) is a great way to find decorations at a discount without adding to the landfill.
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​Look for free or inexpensive activities. Most towns have free attractions for the family like lights in the park or musical performances. Plan a baking night with family and friends. Or drive around looking a Christmas lights with carols playing through the radio. 
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​Unique gift wrap. You don't have to use wrapping paper for your gift. There are many sustainable options out there. Put your gift in a reusable shopping bag. Wrap your gift in old newspaper or magazines. Make the wrapping a part of the gift. For example you can use a scarf to wrap up a smaller gift.
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​Watch energy consumption. Energy and fuel consumption goes way up during the holidays. There are ways you can save though. Use LED lights and put your lights on timers. Shop and travel local. If you do have to travel a long distance, using cars or trains are the most eco-friendly modes.

During this show segment, we introduce four ways to interact with the material presented: A question to answer, a quest to complete, an aspect of creativity we've noticed this week, and a quote to ponder.

What is your number one limited resource?

Pick one area of consumption where you can be more mindful.

Emily shares the different types of sustainable gift wrap she's used over the years.

"What consumerism really is, at its worst, is getting people to buy things that don't actually improve their lives."
​- Jeff Bezos