I love giving gifts, and I love receiving gifts ─ who doesn’t? In recent years, however, my family’s secret Santa exchange has felt anti-climactic, with impersonal gift cards and UPS tracking slips; especially in comparison to the stressful build-up (chaotic shopping, hefty bills, etc.). I love my family, but is the unavoidable holiday stress necessary to celebrate Christmas? Collectively, we decided that, this year, due to some financial constraints (travel expenses, home repairs, and medical bills) and our attempt to simplify the season and maximize Christmas cheer, our gift to each other is “no gifts!”

I wrestled with mixed feelings over our “no gift” declaration. Will it really be Christmas without presents? Are we turning into a family of Scrooges? But suddenly, I realized that the significant decrease in holiday-induced stress has me embracing the holidays like never before. Thanks to “no gifts,” I am gitty over the many gifts to come, such as:

Time! For many of us, time is much more valuable than the stuff that comes with a gift receipt. Instead of spending hours shopping for countless loved ones, I’ll have time to truly enjoy the season with them… driving around to see Christmas lights, attending holiday festivals, attempting to build a gingerbread house (see pg. 16 in December issue), offering  random acts of kindness, and so on.

Sanity! Unfortunately, holiday stress can bring out the worst in people (i.e. Black Friday stampedes). Wouldn’t you love to eliminate your anxiety from crowded parking lots, return lines, bargain bins, and that ridiculous color-coded excel document that organizes your shopping checklist (OK, I slightly enjoy a spreadsheet…)?

Festive fun! Instead of investing in individual gifts, we’ll be investing in one another. For years, my family has donned matching pajamas on Christmas morning; our holiday photos are priceless! Perhaps, this year, we can just recycle our Santa hat clad puppy or ice skating penguin nighties. Next, since time spent unwrapping gifts will be narrowed to the kiddos, we’ll have additional opportunities for family bonding. I can’t wait to cook alongside my 98-year-old Nana! And, it sounds trivial but, our family game nights are always hilarious; so why not roll the dice beside the tree?

The holiday concept of more fun & less stress has spilled over onto my circle of friends too. Instead of gift swaps, we’re gathering for a silly bake off (see Ugly Sweater Party on pg. 14 in December issue). I’ve already kicked off the season with customized cards with a heartfelt message. Hopefully, expressing my genuine well wishes to loved ones, in addition to the many gifts of “no gifts,” is more precious than discounted scented bath soaps. My anticipation of Santa’s arrival is ever so present in the hope of the gifts of no gifts: family, faith, love, and kindness!