Having a Sustainable Holiday - Even at the Last Minute

We've all seen photos of beautifully planned, zero-waste holidays - garlands made from dried oranges, gifts wrapped in brown paper packaging, and treats packed in reusable tins. Everything looks just perfect, and you can't imagine a single thing being tossed in the trash.

For some of us, though, these ideas feel perfectly unattainable. Not everyone is a planner - and even for those who are, we can't plan for everything that life throws at us. So if the season has gotten away from you a bit, but you still want to make it as sustainable as possible, this one is for you!

The Mindset Shift

There are a few problems with these perfect images we see of 'sustainable' holidays; for one, they can make us feel like we need all the Right Things to be sustainable - which can be counter-productive - and they also make us feel like if we aren't doing it perfectly, then it's not worth doing. Both of these thoughts can be harmful and ultimately, less sustainable! 

Rather than focusing on how to make things sustainable in just the right ways, let's instead focus on using what we have and getting creative. You don't actually need a brand new roll of brown craft paper to wrap your gifts - not if you have some paper bags you can cut up! And it might not be as aesthetically pleasing, but re-using the gift bags you saved from last year is a great way to cut down on waste too.

Instead of doing things absolutely perfectly or not at all, let's make the small changes that we can - the impact they have might be bigger than you think. Plus - it's the spirit of the season to pause and appreciate what we already have!

Last Minute Gifts

If you still have some gifting to do, but aren't excited about the idea of heading out to the crowded shops, there are a few sustainable things that you can do with things you may already have on hand.

Handmade and heartfelt:

• Stitch up some quick ornaments from fabric scraps 
• Iron some fabric onto a stabiliser to create handmade patches
• Bake some treats and hand-write a letter (or the recipe!) to go with them

Pictured above is an ornament stitched by Sashiko Stitch Club member Sandra Jones to inspire you!

Digital gifts:

• Create a playlist of songs that you think the recipient would enjoy
• Record a video message to the recipient that they can look back on like a time capsule
• Create an e-card that you can email to friends and family who aren't nearby

Experience-centred gifts:

• Make a home-cooked meal for them

• Plan a stitching or crafting afternoon together

• A “mend something for you” voucher

Wrapping and Decorating

As gorgeous as all the lovely festive wrapping papers and decorations are, there is a lot of potential for waste around the holidays. Rather than running out to buy an un-recyclable roll of glittery paper, or even a new roll of brown craft paper, let's have a look at what we may have on hand that could work just as well.

• Do you have extra tea towels, scarves, or larger scraps of fabric lying around? Consider using these as furoshiki wraps!
• Do you have extra newspapers or flyers on hand, or even magazine pages? Even old drawings from the kids can make a lovely wrapping paper substitute.
• Have a look at your reusable bag stash! Many of us have way too many of them, and ones made from canvas or cottons can be embellished with hand stitching to make them a little extra-special.
  • Don't have an extra reusable bag? Here's a video tutorial to make your own reusable Santa Sack!

There are lots of ways to get creative with your decorations, too! I love using the same decorations each year, as they gather stories and feel even more special that way. If you'd like to add to your stash of decorations, there are a few ways you can do it sustainably! 

• Bring in some nature; pine cones, eucalyptus, evergreen boughs, and citrus are all beautiful representations of the season. Fun tip: if you don't have time to dry your orange slices before hanging, you can actually string them up before they are dried and they will dry as they hang, whilst also smelling incredible. Just be sure to put a little towel or something absorbent underneath for any drips.
• Quick crafting: if you have the time and energy, consider creating some mini buntings or stitched ornaments that you can keep reusing each year.
• Use what you have! If you've got some festive looking fabric scraps, consider layering them with your regular decor to make it look a bit more festive. Tying twine or fabric scraps around mismatched candle holders can bring the room together and make it feel polished. You could even take a long strip of burlap and tie it into a bow for your front door!

I think the trick with decorating is to not get too hung up on comparing yourself to all the perfect pictures that we see online. Embrace the things that you already use and love in your home and dress them up for the season - and if it's not perfect, then we'll just learn to love the wabi-sabi of it all!

Food and Gathering

One thing we never seem to talk about over the holidays is the food waste that can happen. Rather than cooking a massive meal and having all of the responsibility fall on one person, why not consider a potluck style gathering? Everyone brings a little something, and everyone has a container that they can fill up again with leftovers to go home! This way, all the stress of cooking and hosting doesn't fall on one person, and we're more likely to actually eat all those leftovers.

And speaking of leftovers, don't be afraid to get creative - you don't have to just eat ham or turkey sandwiches, or a variation on your holiday dinner, for the next week. Try substituting your leftovers for ingredients in some of your other favourite dishes, or throw together a soup. Leftover veggies can make an excellent breakfast hash!

Stress Less and Enjoy More

I hope you can find the courage this year to abandon the stressful mindset of the holidays, and instead celebrate the creativity of making do with what we have, and the peace that comes with it. This is the perfect time of year to lean into ease and allow yourself grace and rest. If you find yourself stressing, try grounding yourself by:

• Taking three big, deep breaths
• Making your favourite hot drink to enjoy
• Allowing yourself 5 minutes to sit and stitch

And remember that the season is not about how festive your home looks or how impressive the gifts are. It's for connecting, gratitude, and enjoying the company of our loved ones - and for that, you don't need to buy a single thing.

What you have is enough.