Use Less Stuff Day is the third Thursday of November and will be celebrated on the 21st this year! The day is centered around adopting a minimalist lifestyle in order to promote a calmer atmosphere, less material waste to preserve the environment, and a greater awareness of consumption. It encourages people to only buy and keep the essentials and declutter unnecessary items while putting an emphasis on community through sharing. This all sounds very daunting, especially approaching the holiday season, but its positioning is strategic and offers a greater opportunity for self-awareness and thoughtfulness.

Before you start tearing through your closet or your junk drawer, think about the different ways this lifestyle can be applied. To prepare for the day, I’ve constructed two mindsets and methods to make this minimalist approach more attainable with an emphasis on growing closer to the people around you.

1. Thinking of Consumption for the Holidays

Consumerism is a vital part of the holiday season in the United States and a practice that is especially unavoidable approaching the end of the year. I love decorating my apartment, trying the new seasonal coffee creamer or buying a holiday-themed mug and if you enjoy those things, great! This day isn’t about shaming activities and traditions that you love. Instead, think of it as a way of being more mindful about the people in your life.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve already opened a new notes tab or scribbled on a piece of paper some gift ideas of what to get your loved ones, and yourself. Let’s keep in mind the principles of Use Less Stuff Day: environmentally conscious purchases, practicality, and necessity. For the sake of our approach I’d like to take special care in defining practicality and necessity.

For practicality ask these questions: Does this make life easier or more comfortable? Do I have something similar that serves the same purpose?

For necessity ask: Will this be used almost every day? How important will it be to everyday life?

Now when you start shopping for your gifts this year, ask yourself these questions for things you want to buy for yourself and others. Will the person I’m giving this to appreciate and need this in their home? If the answer is no or you’re unsure, put it back and do another lap around the store. If you still can’t answer with a definite yes, it might be time to start brainstorming another gift idea. This way, you’re helping yourself be more mindful about your purchases and investing more time and care into the gifts you share with your family and friends!

2. Make it a Group Activity

A big part of Use Less Stuff Day is sharing. Instead of buying a new outfit for your work dinner party or a new book just because it’s being featured on a celebrity’s reading list, turn to a neighbor or friend for some help. I love sharing and borrowing clothes with my friends because it helps me create new looks and makes getting ready more fun. I’ve worn my friend’s shawl for special events just as much as she’s worn my blue tank top because it matches her eyes! I’m also a firm believer that your friends and family know you best. They’ll have books or shows in mind for you to start if you ask them or they may have the perfect blouse to match your pants in the back of their closet.

Think of this as the “phone a friend” method. As soon as you feel the inescapable urge to jump online and order something new, text or call a friend instead. Not only does this open the door for future sharing on both ends, but it also creates opportunities to see one another and develop new interests together. Start a new show together or a mini book club, and at the next meeting return the scarf or bracelet you borrowed along with something to show you appreciate them. After all, sharing is caring.

Use Less Stuff Day is all about self-awareness and betterment, but there’s no need to feel unnecessary pressure to follow it exactly. As long as you feel encouraged to make small but impactful changes in your everyday life, you’ve done exactly what was intended!

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