Stress Less With a Minimalist Holiday - Here’s How
The holidays are supposed to feel joyful, but they often come with a lot of stress, too. We’ve got long to-do lists and lots of things added to our calendars.
There’s pressure to make everything perfect.
If you’ve ever found yourself stressed this time of year, you’re not alone.
I know, from experience, that a minimalist approach can help you create a holiday that feels calmer, more intentional, and (maybe most important) more enjoyable.
Here’s my short guide to bring simplicity into your shopping, wrapping, and gifting so you can spend less time feeling overwhelmed and more time doing what actually matters to you.
More Intentional Holiday Shopping
Holiday shopping often becomes a sprint. We’re so busy. We get to these last few days before the holiday and need to buy something fast, buy something on sale, or buy something because it’s what you “should” do.
But when you slow down and choose gifts intentionally, you remove a huge amount of stress.
A minimalist mindset isn’t always about buying nothing. It can be about buying with more purpose.
Here are a few quick tips for shopping more intentionally, even when you’re shopping for last-minute gifts.
Taking just a few minutes to plan your gift list and shopping strategy can save you lots of time and stress. (Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova, Unsplash)
Start with a list. It sounds simple, but sometimes when we feel rushed, we skip this step. Take just a few minutes to write out a list of what you’d like to get for each person on your list.
Plan alternatives. Sometimes our shopping plan doesn’t work out. Either we can’t get our first gift choice delivered in time. Or we’re not able to find a specific gift at a local store. When you make your shopping list, plan 1-2 alternative ideas in case your first choice isn’t available. If you have another option already planned, you can go with that next option and still check that name off your shopping list.
Pick a theme. If you try to make a list and can’t come up with a specific list, pick a theme or interest and write that down. Even this small step will make your online or in-person shopping go quicker.
Don’t forget vintage options. Vintage is not only cool, but it’s also a more sustainable choice than buying new. You can find more unique gifts that are usually higher quality when you shop in vintage or second-hand stores. Analog items are more desirable now, so used entertainment items like DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records are on lots of wishlists, especially with teens and young adults.
Vintage stores are great places to find unique, sustainable holiday gifts. (Photo by Christelle Bourgeois, Unsplash)
As you’re making your plan and lists, even when it’s last-minute, here are some questions to help guide your planning and shopping.
Ask yourself a few grounding questions before you shop:
Will this gift actually be used or appreciated?
Is it meaningful, practical, or comforting?
Does it replace something or solve a problem?
Does this fit who the recipient is right now?
This small pause helps you avoid the last-minute impulse gifts that clutter homes and never get used.
Digital Gifts Make Life Easier (and Still Feel Special)
Digital gifts are an overlooked way to simplify the season. They don’t need to be wrapped or shipped, and you don’t need to worry about whether the item will fit in someone’s home or their schedule.
They’re also fantastic for people who value experiences or learning over physical things. I’ll be the first to confirm we all have too much stuff, so digital gifts are good alternatives.
You might consider:
A subscription to a meditation or wellness app
Online classes (cooking, photography, watercolor, organization)
Audiobook or streaming memberships
A digital gift card to their favorite local shop
A gift card for professional personal organizing 😉
A custom playlist paired with a handwritten note
Digital gifts are fast, meaningful, and entirely clutter-free. If the holidays sneak up on you, they also make wonderful last-minute gifts that still feel thoughtful.
Sometimes the simplest wrapping is the loveliest, and it’s also the easiest. Kraft paper, twine, and maybe a sprig of greenery make wrapping easy. (Photo by Nathan Lemon, Unsplash)
Minimalist Gift Wrapping: Beautiful Options Minus the Stress
If you do give physical gifts, you don’t have to buy a shopping cart full of holiday paper, ribbon, and tags to make gifts look special.
Some of the simplest wrapping ideas are also the most beautiful.
Try using items you already have at home:
Brown or white kraft paper and string, or twine
Baskets
Mason jars
Old sheet music or maps
A plain paper bag with a sprig of greenery tucked in
Newspapers or magazines, particularly comics pages or colorful travel articles (*You can even save articles your friends would enjoy and use for wrapping their gifts.)
Alternative gift wrapping that can become part of the gift include:
A scarf
Tea towels
These small, creative touches look effortless and intentional. Plus, they don’t come with the stress of trying to match patterns when wrapping or triple-layering ribbons. Minimalist wrapping is about ease and sustainability, not perfection.
Alternative wrapping also makes your gifts more unique than the majority of gifts your friends and family will receive.
Thinking like a minimalist can make your holiday easier and more enjoyable. (Photo by Freestocks, Unsplash)
A Minimalist Holiday Makes Room for What Matters
Choosing a minimalist holiday doesn’t mean giving up the fun parts of the season. It means removing the stress and noise so the good moments have more space to breathe.
When you shop intentionally, wrap simply, and choose gifts that won’t add clutter (to your home or anyone else’s), you create a holiday that feels lighter and more meaningful.
More time connecting.
More room to rest.
More presence.
Less pressure.
And that’s what most of us want anyway: a holiday that feels like a deep breath.
If you’d like help decluttering your home after the holidays or setting up simple routines to keep your spaces calm, reach out. We’d love to help you create a space or a routine that feels peaceful for your new year.
Xoxo,
Michelle
