The Mistakes we all make at Thanksgiving

🦃 Introduction

Thanksgiving joyfully kicks off the holiday season for many in North America - Turkey, pie, family time, cheers and gratitude, end-of-year excitement, etc. But even still, we think there are five mistakes that each and everyone one of us make during the holiday season. To get the most out of your holidays, we'll talk through how to be mindful and minimal during a period that is crammed with consumption and commitments. By the end of this blog, you'll have a new, essentialist perspective into approaching Thanksgiving and the holidays that you can take back to your families and friends.

🙏🏻 Mistake #1: Only Prioritizing Gratitude during the Holiday Season

I think many of us can relate to the awkward experience of going around the Thanksgiving dinner table, watching as everyone shares their somewhat superficial "thankful toast." Every year, on repeat, it's always the same.

Now, we're not saying that being thankful is a bad thing. In fact it's a key pillar of being mindful and essential. Rather, we argue that the largest and most evident mistake of the holidays is only prioritizing gratitude and thankfulness during the holiday season. The Holidays span for 6 weeks out the year, leaving 46 weeks in which we neglect mindful and gracious habits. No wonder "Thanksgiving toasts" are a bit awkward - we're not prioritizing gratitude throughout the year.

So, are we saying that at every meal you should work around the table and hear everyones thankful moments? No, no, no - that would be pretty forced. Instead, this year, have a goal to work in more moments of gratitude during your days and weeks. Here are a few ideas that work for us at Quaint:

• Every few weeks, let a friend (maybe someone you haven't heard from in a while) know you're thinking of them. Or maybe, send them something that made you think of them.
• Give your parents or children a call every Sunday evening and ask how their weekend has been.
• At work, let your coworkers know that you love learning with them and highlight some of their strengths you're trying to grow from.
• Journal a couple times a week and give yourself grace and appreciation. You should be proud of yourself, just as you are of others.

📚 Mistake #2: Getting Caught up in Q4 Work

The Holiday season is inevitably positioned to collide with Q4 work for many companies and employees. This means end-of-year reviews, project deadlines, bonuses, raises, etc. (not to mention the many students that also have finals during the holiday season). It's almost unfair to have such a happy time of the year be dragged down by the most stressful time of the year for our careers.

This is our gentle reminder to try not to get caught up in Q4 madness during the holidays. Keep in mind the more important parts of the season - family, friends, appreciation, gratitude, quality time, etc.

Keep on pushing for that raise - you deserve it. But don't sacrifice the importance of family time and be mindful of how you're approaching your end of year.

🛍 Mistake #3: Impulsive Shopping - Buy Experiences Instead

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are maybe the most non-minimal, non-essential days of the year. Wow wow wow, this one hits home for us at Quaint.

Now, as always, we teach moderation. We're not saying don't participate in the shopping deals at all, but we are saying, before you camp outside of Walmart on Black Friday, really ask yourself, "Are these items what I truly need? Will they genuinely make my life better?" Will the new TV give you genuine satisfaction, or can you use that money on something else? Do your old pair of boots really need replacing or is it just media and societal pressure to have the newest product this year?

Here's our suggestion, rather than buying a new TV or boots, buy experiences instead:

• Purchase the flight to the country thats been on your bucket list forever.
• Buy tickets to Taylor Swift's Era Tour.
• Purchase the online course you've wanted to take but never had the time.

Really reflect on what experiences will bring value to your life - this is where you should spend your money during the Holidays.

🌎 Mistake #4: Wasting Resources, Hurting the Earth

Here's the good news: The poultry and vegetable featured holiday of Thanksgiving is a much more environmentally friendly than beef filled 4th of July and Labor Day.

With that being said, being mindful of how we use our resources is still important! Here are a few easy tips that everyone can use to make their Thanksgiving dinner more environmentally friendly:

• Use reusable dinnerware
• Repurpose leftovers creatively
• Recycling responsibly and intentionally
• Use local and organic ingredients

Of course, we don't want anyone to limit their holiday dinner, but these few tips can go a long way if implemented by everyone!

🏃 Mistake #5: Neglecting Self-Care

Have you ever come out of the holiday season feeling like the past 5 weeks completely got away from you? Maybe your diet fell off or your exercise routine took a hit. Maybe time flew by because of the many social commitments that come with the holidays.

While the holidays are certainly time to spend with family and friends, eat loads of good food, and enjoy time away from work, please also don't forget to take care of yourself:

• Stay consistent with your exercise routine
• Practice Mindfulness regularly
• Stay in the moment with your friends and family
• Recharge with your hobbies
• Do whats best for you!

Conclusion

Thanksgiving and the holidays are a consumption filled time of the year. And that's completely okay - as long as we plan ahead and consider strategies like mindfulness, gratitude exercises, and sustainability challenges that help balance out the consumption habits.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Take care,

🕺 The Quaint Team