It's *not really* Holiday Madness

Holiday shopping keeps sprouting up on us earlier and earlier...and especially earlier this year! Between supply-chain issues and our seemingly permanent pandemic-induced buying frenzy, stores have been sneaking out holiday isles and announcing Black Friday deals since September. But does anyone know what month it is anymore anyway!

Pandemic-time has been a blur. Like all of us, I hunkered down, caught up on some fun dClutterfly to-dos, and immersed myself in home decluttering projects. As we slowly opened up, my team and I got busier and busier and the next time I looked up it was nearly the end of 2021. 

And you know what I started seeing more during the pandemic? Shipping boxes! From guest beds covered with unopened packages, to stacks of unruly packing material, to the ubiquitous to-do pile of returns that rarely make it back...this last year and a half I’ve seen them all in droves. When we can’t even leave the house, online shopping can be an escape. But now, you can leave the house, so leave that pandemic shopping frenzy in the pandemic!

And before you go all hog wild panic buying holiday presents take stock of what you really need to give to people, and, what you’ve already bought. 

We couldn’t spend money on dinner out, so we spent money on stuff. We couldn’t go to the movies or the theater, so we got more stuff. Everyone did. Want to see how much stuff you really accumulated these last, ahem, 20 months? Download your credit card transactions by category. Are you an Amazon shopper? Amazon offers an itemized download that lists every single item you’ve purchased. I know. Make sure you are sitting down when you do this.

Knowing what you are REALLY buying might help you to be more mindful of how you shop moving forward. How much did you return? How much did you mean to return but never get to? How much has yet to be used? The people on your “shopping” list this year probably have those same stacks of stuff. So realize “holiday” list, not “shopping” list, give meaningfully, and take a deep breath before you mindlessly buy. 

Stay tuned for more mindful holiday list ideas from me, and for right now, just try to enjoy the leaves ;)

Today’s Tracyism: