Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
That’s right: Little.
Minimalism is in. Consumerism is overrated.
Don’t stress out spending and shopping.
“It’s not about ties, jewelry and wallets,” said clinical psychologist Paul Schoenfeld, Everett Clinic director of behavioral health.
It’s not?
Nope, not even for kids.
“Toys get thrown into a big pile,” he said. “The gift of time and attention is something they remember. That’s the scarce commodity.”
Why invest so much money or energy trying to find an item that will provide instant gratification, at best.
“It takes a lot of fun out of the holidays,” Schoenfeld said. “Create opportunities to reinvent these holidays in a way more meaningful. Give experiences or the gift of time. Spend time with your kids. Give them individual attention.”
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus write the popular blog www.theminimalists.com about living a meaningful life with less.
It’s a year-round practice that hits home during the holiday clutter season that includes Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah and, as the blog puts it, “every other holiday we have commandeered and reappropriated as obligatory gift-giving days. Even Valentine’s Day …”
The bloggers started out as corporate overachievers. By the time they were 30, they had it all: money, power and scads of superfluous stuff, not to mention angst, depression and a gaping void. So, they ditched it all and embarked on maximizing the joys of minimalism.
Ironically, it paid off. Big time. The dynamic duo from Dayton, Ohio, are on a 100-stop international book tour for their memoir, “Everything That Remains,” about their journey of empowerment.
Their gift ideas: “Concert tickets. Movie tickets. Tickets to a special event. A great home-cooked meal. Walking somewhere without a plan. Write something nice about someone publicly. A massage. Our full attention. Our time.”
Of course, you could buy their $15 book.
Think local: A gift card for indoor skydiving at iFLY in Seattle ($40 at Costco). Tickets to the Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation 2015 Winter Lecture Series ($20 or $85 for all eight lectures). A walk on the waterfront (priceless).
“Taking somebody out to lunch is a great gift,” Schoenfeld said. “They not only get a free lunch but also get time. The holidays is all about connecting with family and friends. That connection of time is more relevant in today’s busy life than things.”
It will simplify your life as well.
“It’s a lot of pressure for people,” Schoenfeld said. “They worry about spending enough money or not enough money.”
Still need to shop?
No problem.
It’s OK to buy ties, jewelry, wallets and other gifts. Do it when the fancy strikes or the item speaks to you.
The bloggers say the worst time to give a gift is on someone’s birthday or a holiday.
Schoenfeld agrees: “Do it out of the blue, when they least expect it. It means you are thinking of them,” he said.
To read Schoenfeld’s blog, go to www.familytalkblog.com.
Follow the minimalists at www.theminimalists.com.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
Minimalist game
Here’s a game to brace for the holiday onslaught. Find a friend or family member or anybody willing to get rid of their excess stuff.
You have get rid of one thing on the first day of the month. On the second day, two things. Three items on the third. Four on fourth. And so on.
Anything goes. Clothes, furniture, electronics, tools, decorations. Donate, sell or trash.
Whatever you do, each material possession must be out of your house — and out of your life — by midnight each day.
It’s an easy game at first. It starts getting challenging by week two. Whoever can keep it going the longest wins. You both win if you can make it all month. Bonus points if you play with more than two people. Change the rules any way you want.
Source: www.theminimalists.com/game
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