A Professional Organizer's 2020 Gift Guide
Some of us doubted we would make it to this point of the year (I may have been one of those people) - but we finally have.
I’ve always loved the holidays and it makes me so happy to see people springboarding into the season even just a few weeks earlier than normal. Although I have yet to join the trend. I haven’t powered up a Christmas playlist and my tree is still packed away, but I look forward to the day when I do. And that day isn’t too far away.
The one area that I have begun to consider as the holiday season approaches is gifts. I love giving gifts but I also have gift-giving anxiety - a strong desire to get just the perfect thing for each person on my list. Normally I am able to pick up hints and get lots of ideas throughout the year - but since my interactions with many loved ones have been significantly reduced in 2020, I am finding my ideas list a bit less developed than usual.
Add to that not being able to just wander through the mall to let myself be inspired (COVID strikes again…) and I definitely feel a bit lost. And since I have spent this year so focused on personal and environmental sustainability, and because I’m an organizer and I spend so much time helping people deal with their stuff (much of which they acquired in the form of a well-intentioned gift), I’m not willing to resort to just anything giving any random thing pulled off of Amazon.
I think that many people, organizers and minimalists alike, generally point to the experiential gift as a great option for something that doesn’t take up much (if any!) space and almost always results in a memorable outing or a new skill. This type of gift often includes classes, concerts, memberships, or tickets of some kind. But once again, in the age of COVID, these types of gifts are no longer truly practical - at least not where I live.
There is always the option of online substitutes, but unless you know that is something that the recipient would really enjoy or look forward to, then it is probably best to steer away from those too.
I know it is tough to find the right gift - but even in the age of COVID, you can give a meaningful gift that is still low- to no-clutter. I decided not to link to any particular objects or items here, but instead to share some of the ideas I have been inspired by and also some other general principles to help you give intentionally this holiday season…
Shop locally. Although I am avoiding spending extra time wandering aimlessly, there are a few items that I plan to pick up in local stores to give to my loved ones. Small businesses have been hit particularly hard this year, and anything from a gift card to a favorite local restaurant or a book from your local bookstore (rather than ordering the same one from Amazon) can make a great gift, and benefit your community along the way.
Opt for “perishables” over “cherishables.” Cliche? Yes. But important nonetheless. The best way to give a gift and to be sure that it will get used, rather than turning into background clutter, is to give something that needs to be consumed! Whether that is a candle or bath salts, those items are meant to be used. But, there are still some people who hesitate to use items like this, and they may still end up pushed to the back of a cupboard. In that case, it might be better to get something even more “perishable” - like a food item that really does need to be used in a shorter time frame. And remember, you can find lots of great perishable items in local shops!
Instead of activities, shop for services. You may not be able to buy your friend or cousin a ticket to a concert, but there are other services that they may want or need that you could get a gift card for! Whether you are basically covering their next manicure or hiring someone to rake the last of the leaves in their yard, this is another way to support local businesses (or ones local to them!) and give a meaningful gift. And remember, some people even gift organizing services!
Decide once. Decision-making fatigue is real. And since we are all running on fumes this year anyway, there’s no need to complicate things. If you come across one amazing gift (especially if it is from a local store, or it is a “perishable”, or it is something that you have used and loved) it’s okay to buy it for multiple people on your list. Actually, it’s okay to buy it for everyone on your list. Don’t worry, I won’t tell. I’m planning to get the same book for almost everyone in my friend group because it is one that I love and I know that they will too. And since I can buy it at my local bookstore, that makes it even better.
Opt for the upgrade. While it isn’t a universal rule, it is often true that investing in a high-quality item over a low-quality substitute will give you something that will be more durable in the long run. And longevity is something that both my sustainability-loving self and organizer self can really get behind. You can use this principle to purchase something for a friend, family, or loved one that they would either never get for themselves but that you know they want or to get them the nicer version of something they already own. This doesn’t have to mean buying someone a super expensive TV - you can give them an upgrade by getting a nice pair of slippers to replace worn-out ones, or by getting name-brand leggings instead of the dupes. You can even just get a nice, durable product that you’ve used and love and that you think everyone should own (like the way I think that everyone should own silicone baking mats - it feels like a no brainer!). By upgrading, you’re getting them a nice gift and something that you are almost guaranteed that they will love.
It’s okay to keep Amazon in your back pocket. I know that it isn’t ideal, and I try to avoid Amazon shopping when at all possible. But when you realize that there is that one person you forgot, or have to attend a last-minute office Christmas party where you suddenly need 10 of the same small gift for your co-workers, you can always turn to Amazon.
Give yourself permission not to give. It may just be the best gift you get the whole holiday season, and it is one you can give yourself. If this year has been too much and you have 0% capacity for planning and buying and wrapping and giving gifts this year, then don’t. I give you my complete permission, although you don’t need it - you really just need it from yourself. I promise the world will keep turning even if you opt to push all of that off of your plate. And the peace and joy that you feel might just be what you’ve been looking for all along.
This year more than ever I think we are being prompted to remember that the holidays are about so much more than what is under the tree. They are about relationships, love, community, rest, generosity, and celebration (whether through gifts or not).
I am sending my love to you this holiday season. I hope that your days are “calm and bright” and that you are able to look with hopeful expectation to the future and to all that lies ahead.
Until next time,