staying mindful and keeping your sanity during the holiday (overconsumerism) season

In this episode of The Alina Edit, we’re focusing on ways to keep your mindfulness and sanity intact during the holiday season, especially when it comes to avoiding overconsumption. I’ll share tips on mindful shopping, prioritizing planning over impulse buying, and finding joy in creating rather than consuming.

We’ll discuss the power of building a wishlist and gathering inspiration for future experiences, all while making intentional choices that foster gratitude and a sense of control. Tune in to discover how to enjoy a fulfilling, consumer-conscious holiday season that’s centered on what truly matters.

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Transcript

INTRO:
Hello, everyone, and welcome to The Alina Edit, your guide to elevating every aspect of your life—wellness, beauty, productivity, relationships, and all things in between. I’m your host, Alina, and together, we’ll curate the best version of you.

MAIN TOPIC: How to Survive the Consumerism of Holiday Season

The holiday season is here, and it’s a time that brings out the best deals and the highest consumer spending of the year. It’s fantastic for content creators who might earn from promoting products. However, as consumers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with products constantly being shown on our screens. I’m actually batching episodes because I’ll be traveling, but I noticed that it’s the first week of October, and holiday gift guides are already everywhere! This time of year can shift our mindset—making us feel like we don’t have enough, taking us out of a place of gratitude, and even altering our relationships with others. So today, let’s talk about how to stay in control and make intentional choices.

5 Ways to Simplify Your Life and Be More Mindful This Season:

1. Use What You Have
   We’re lucky to have so many things, often with multiples. Focus on using up what’s already in your makeup bag, toiletries, wardrobe, and even your kitchen. Decluttering your space is a great way to declutter your mind. Remember, you already have what you need to succeed!
2. Start Simple and Build Up
   Perfectionism often keeps us from starting, but things will never be perfect! Rather than waiting, take action, work with what you have, and build from there. For example, if you’re beginning an exercise routine, start with the essentials instead of buying a lot of new gear. Reward yourself with additions as you see progress.
3. Wishlist Over Impulse Shopping
   Seeing others’ hauls can trigger impulsive shopping, but we can train ourselves to wait. Creating a wishlist is a great way to delay gratification—add items you truly want, go back to them if you keep thinking about them, and share your list if loved ones ask for gift ideas.
4. Create More Than You Consume
   This is a great season to get crafty! Spend time in the kitchen, do some scrapbooking, or try a digital design project. We’re meant to share with others, and creating can help us feel fulfilled, bringing us out of a mental rut and keeping us from focusing on what we lack.
5. Collect Inspiration for Next Year
   Don’t let FOMO get to you. Plan for what you’d love to do in future years because the holidays come around every year. Sometimes social media makes us feel like we should have it all now, but it’s okay to save experiences and luxuries for the future. Make an inspiration board for experiences, trips, and other ideas you can look forward to in the coming years.

Conclusion:
To stay in control of consumerism, get familiar with what you have and find ways to use it. Focus on the small, simple things—keeping your space clean, going on daily walks, staying presentable, and communicating well with people. Overcome that impulse-driven “lizard brain” by building a wishlist and practicing delayed gratification. Put out more than you take in, especially on social media and with mindless shopping. And instead of letting FOMO control you, use it as a source of inspiration for the future.

Call to Action:
Thank you for joining me for this episode! If you’re watching on YouTube and found this episode helpful, please hit the like button and subscribe for more content like this. You can follow me on social media through the links in the description box, and find links to my favorite items on my LTK. Here’s your reminder that you absolutely will achieve your dream life, and I’ll see you in the next episode!