It is that time of year again-the holiday season! I love this time of year, but it can be overwhelming for many people. I belong to a special interest group of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) that is interesting in green organizing. Our group is interested in helping clients step a little lighter on the earth.  We give each other and our clients ideas about reducing, reusing, and repurposing. Our meeting this month’s focus was on preparing a green holiday season, which can help in saving green (the other green, that is.)
Here are some ideas:

Your Time
Learn to say “no” to things you really don’t want to do. Evaluate what is important to your family. For example, our family loves to see the Nutcracker and we try to go at least every other year.  If I say “yes” to the Nutcracker, I probably will need to say “no” to something else.  Everyone has the same amount of time. Don’t drain yourself. The holiday season is about having fun and enjoying yourself.  It is not a race to see how much you can get done.
 
Shopping
Before you shop, think about whom you are shopping for, and what you might want to purchase for them. Can you trim the list of people to buy for? Can you take a stand with your family and friends to limit the amount of gifts given? If you have a group of people that normally gives gifts to each other, can you draw names and therefore give to just one of them?  Can you stop exchanging gifts at work and instead wish each other a wonderful holiday season, or perhaps collect for a charity. It is about an attitude shift in how much is enough and trying to eliminate excess. 

Disappearing Gifts-Some of the best gifts are “disappearing” gifts. For example,
Tickets to sporting events, movies, plays, shows, zoo, museum, oil change for your car,
Lessons for ice skating, golf, painting, pottery, yoga, cooking classes
Donations to charities
Food Gift cards
Gifts of your time to do something for special for someone

What to do about decorations
When your strings of lights get old and you get many burned out bulbs or they simply stop working, think about replacing them with new LED lights that use less energy. I have not done this yet, but I will when my lights need replaced.
And while we’re on the lighting subject, use a timer for your lights.  Many timers can be set or “programmed” to turn on at a certain time or at dusk, and stay on for a pre-determined about of time.  They are convenient – you do not need to turn your lights on yourself every night and remember to turn them off when you go to bed. You may even save some energy.

Think about using natural decorations-Pine cones, greens, and acorns.
Many people will donate unwanted or extra seasonal decorative items to charities, but find many charities will only take them in October, November, and early December. When packing your seasonal items for next year, place items that you will not use next year near the top of the box and leave yourself a note with them. So when you open it next year, it is the first thing you see.  You see your note and remember that you wanted to donate some of these items.

Creative Wrapping
Re-use decorative bags, bows, ribbon, fabric, to wrap presents. Be creative and think about how you could wrap something. If you have any ideas please send them to me.

Holiday Parties
Try to use your good dishes for parties instead of disposables. Wouldn’t it be great to put an appetizer out on your grandmother’s cut glass tray instead of disposables?
Remember, the holiday season should be fun and enjoying the company of friends and neighbors. Minimize the stress by doing less, and emphasizing what is important to you.
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