Tips for Slow Gifting: Combatting a Culture of Overconsumption, Materialism and Convenience

Overconsumption, Convenience, and the Material World Muse:

I can’t say that I’ve ever really been a holiday person. A Grinch, I guess. But, let’s remember that the Grinch’s heart did grow three sizes that day. So, take my Grinchy-ness for what you will. Anyway, regardless if you are the holiday cheer type of person or not, it is officially “deck the halls” season. 

But make it mindful, right?

Between decorations, gift wrapping and packaging, freight and food is it even possible to be mindful about your purchases? Even if you are a seasoned sustainable baddie, that doesn’t always translate during the holidays. For the sake of this article, I’m going to hone in on gifting. Consciously, of course. 

During what has now become black November until around New Year or so, millions of the good-cheer-holiday-faithful and (the not so enthused of us), hone our sights in on gifts for everyone on our list. This represents millions of gifting decisions on the daily! 

That’s really where conscious / mindful / slow gifting comes in. No matter what you call it, conscious gifting is a structural element of the pyramid of sustainability. So, how does one change this holiday madness conditioning? First, understand that what got us here won’t get us there and that changing behaviors is never easy.

But! We do have tools! So, here is my advice when it comes to slowing down and gifting, shopping and wrapping in a more mindful way.

Because I believe that when we know better, we do better. 

Read the full article on Elephant Journal.