Gifts

The holiday season is supposed to be a season of joy and cheer. Unfortunately, excess gift-giving can bring all that joy crashing down when we realize there’s no place to put anything. This is especially a problem for families with young children, though any of us could struggle with too many gifts and no place to store them.

There are some easy ways to reduce the amount of items you take in during the holiday season. I’ll give you a few suggestions of strategies you can implement around the holidays to make it less likely that you and your loved ones will end up with more than comfortably fits in your homes.

Consider implementing a gift-giving limit.

With the rise in popularity of Marie Kondo and the minimalism movement, people have become more and more weary of keeping things in excess. You many find that your friends and family would happily agree to a secret Santa or gift swap structure. These limit how many gifts each person gets, add some fun, and reduce the financial burden of having to purchase gifts for multiple people.

Do a declutter sweep before the holidays.

Grab the whole family for a sweep through the house to identify things that haven’t been used or played with in the past year. Doing this as a family is a great way to teach children about letting go of things that no longer serve a purpose. If you donate items, everyone can also experience the joy that comes from helping others.

Don’t default to keeping.

A thoughtful gift can still be a thoughtful gift even if you choose not to keep it. If a gift that was given to you does not fit your lifestyle or doesn’t bring you happiness, I’m giving you permission not to keep it! Often people will keep something they don’t like just because someone they care about gave it to them. First, it’s probable that the person who gave you the gift wouldn’t want you to feel burdened by keeping it. Second, it’s unlikely they will even know that you didn’t keep it. Finally, I’d argue that if keeping a gift burdens you, then it’s no longer a gift.

Lead by example.

Be thoughtful in your own gift-giving. Consider what the receiver might feel when they get the gift. Will keeping a particular gift burden them? Giving gifts of experience instead of objects can be a way to show you care without cluttering up the receiver’s home.

By putting some consideration into how you give and receive gifts, you can make the holiday season more about family traditions and loved ones, and less about figuring out where to store things you’ve been given.