Let Your Gifts Be a Blessing, Not a Burden
It's that time of year again. Time for merriment and cheer, and for spending quality time with your loved ones. And for many people, gift giving is a large part of how they celebrate the holidays.
For some, gifting can be a blessing, and for others, it can be a burden. All the toys and gifts that come into our homes during the holidays can become way too much for some people. I see it all the time- families overwhelmed with well-intentioned gifts that become clutter. In some cases it's keeping them from having people over, or from their kids having real space to play in their living rooms or bedrooms, or being able to eat at the dining table. It can be a real problem. Ofttimes when I ask my client if they would like to keep something, and they start with a sigh and a pause, I know what's coming next: "... it was a gift."
This month's blog post is all about giving gifts intentionally, and letting the gifts you give be a blessing and not a burden to your loved ones.
5 Ways to Give Gifts with Intention
1. Decide if you're going to give gifts.
I'm just going to put this out there: You don't actually HAVE to give gifts. More and more families are deciding to forego gift giving, or deciding to give gifts in a different and more simplified way in an effort to reduce stress, overspending, overconsumption and clutter. If this is something that appeals to you, speak to your friends and family and feel out their thoughts. You may find that there are a lot of other people in your circle who feel the same way.
2. Ask the receiver what they want- and listen.
If you are going to be giving gifts, ask people if there's anything they want or need. If they point you to a wish list, try to stick to the list. The person took the time to curate the items on their wish list because they want them or need them, and decided the item might make their lives easier in some way.
3. Give consumables.
Consumable gifts can be a great option if you want to give something, but don't want to weigh the receiver down with more "stuff". Home made or store bought baked goods, sweet treats, a jar of fancy olives (my personal favorite), or a nice bottle of wine are all nice options. Including an extra special note telling them what they mean to you is a nice touch, and a true gift that they will remember and treasure.
4. Give experiences and memberships.
Giving experiences can be a great solution for the people on your list who say they don't want or need anymore stuff. I have so many friends, especially mom friends who's families are drowning in their kids' toys, who are 100% on board with this. Ask them if they'd like a membership to the arboretum, or a museum. Take them out for a brunch date. Ask them if they'd like tickets to a movie or play.
If you are on the receiving end of a gifted experience, you can send the gifter a photo or video of you enjoying the experience, or take the gifter to the museum with you.
5. If they say they really don't want or need anything, listen.
If you ask what they want and they say "We don't need anything" or "We are trying really hard to declutter and limit what comes in", respect that. Don't just give something to give something. It can be hard and time consuming and expensive to declutter. People often feel guilty getting rid of gifts that aren't serving them.
Every year I have clients express to me that they are worried that incoming gifts from the holidays or kids' birthdays will set them back in their decluttering goals. And that costs them time, stress, and money. So many people these days feel like they are drowning in stuff, and I see firsthand how well-intentioned gifts that missed the mark, or an overabundance of gifts, can be a contributor to that.
I hope you've found some good insights in this month's blog post, and I invite you to take some time to reflect on how and why you want (or don't want) to give gifts. In what ways is gifting causing you stress? How might things be different if you all gave and received less "stuff"? Let your gifts be a blessing to the recipient, and not a burden.
If you know of someone who would find this blog post particularly helpful, please forward it to them!
And if you're ready to get organized and create a less stressful and more functional home for the holidays, I'm here to help. We can do this!