How to be sustainable this holiday season
Something that's really important to me as an entrepren-woo-er and witchy gal is sustainability. Living in the city, and not being very affluent allows me to be more conscious of resources and how to use them more appropriately. If not just for the cost then for the Earth.
I was THAT kid. I got mad at my friends for littering, and my parents would take us to parks every few months and we'd all pick up trash. No, you do not leave the water running when you brush your teeth. Food wasted was punished, and we were discouraged for being wasteful.
Now as an adult, I pay for everything myself. So waste not, want not is a big mantra. Of course, there are always ways I could improve. I would love to compost but my apartment makes it rather difficult, same with recycling. I find myself guilty of leaving the closet light on overnight by mistake. That one final container of meal prep in the back of the fridge that smells horrid.
And with the holidays coming up, I’m even more aware of just how thoughtless and unaware we can be in our attempt to “give.”
This is your guide to a sustainable holiday season. I’m going to go over all sorts of ways you can bring festive cheer without spending more money, throwing more waste into the trash and generally being more mindful with gifting.
Reuse paper grocery bags as wrapping paper. Pair it with cute ribbon and fresh herbs/flowers for a thoughtful touch. I personally think that brown paper has a classic and timeless look to it.
Thrifting. ‘Nuff said. There are hundreds of thousands of gently used kitchenware, household items and cozy sweaters just waiting for a good home. Pair them with a cookbook, candle or sock set for a complete gift.
Save your food scraps! Boil turkey and chicken bones for stock and reuse them in your cozy winter soups. Apple and orange peels can be boiled with cinnamon for a simmer pot.
Shop local. This one may take more time, but the effects of stimulating your local economy and the personal touches of local crafts say far more than a quick-ship from Amazon.
Instead of putting all the work on grandma this year, suggest a family potluck and encourage everyone to assist with kitchen clean-up after. This limits paper plate waste and encourages togetherness (ya know, the whole point of the holidays?)
Consider a digital gift card or experience you can give to someone you love: a local pottery class, glass blowing, racecar driving (it’s a thing!), or a spa treatment.
Donate to your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Everyone needs a little extra care in the winter months, and your time will mean more to them than you know.
Join a “buy nothing” Facebook group. Oftentimes super unique and typically expensive items are being given away simply because people don’t need them anymore!
There are so many ways to be more thoughtful this holiday season. And if you’re one of many that is always worried about how expensive Christmas is, all of these are options for affordability that do not sacrifice meaning.
As spiritual business owners, we know that what we pour out we receive back. Making small, compounding changes impacts things in a large way. We can twist the state of things though mindful action and in our current society, every little bit counts.
Give freely and mindfully. It’s how we spread light everywhere we go.
<3 Ryan
