It's begging to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas time for many can bring stress and overwhelm especially for those who worry about the health of our living planet. It is the most full-on time of year on many fronts but especially for the production of 'goods', burning of fossil fuels, and masses of plastics ending up in landfills.

The ecological madness our world creates is aimed up to full blast at Christmas but you have the choice to opt-out if the madness and to participate in a magical time of year full of joy, family and abundance.

So I've created this guide to get you through the season with a lighter footprint.

If you are trying to be more eco this Christmas, definitely don't buy a new plastic tree. If you have one, of course, use what you have. If you don't, rethink the tree with alternatives:

Second-hand Tree: plastic does last a long time and there are plenty of families who upgrade their tree with the trends ever few years and you can save their old tree from a premature landfill death.

Living potted Tree: Now those huge lush real trees are very pretty, but the have also have had the life and trunk cut short but being cut off at the base. Go for a living you can grow your self and move to bugger pots each year or plant in the ground.

Alternative Tree Ideas: A Google and Pinterest search will have you seeing all sorts of DIY interesting tree ideas especially with key words in your search like "eco" "sustainable" and "zero waste"

Ditch the plastic decorations and try some eco ideas. There are thousands of ideas on the internet where you can DIY some pretty festive décor. I've seen some really beautiful stuff made from dehydrated oranges. Don't forget the good ol' opp shops too. I scored a vintage giant wooden advent calendar with tiny ornaments you hang each day for $24.

Plan ahead

December brings shops full of people rushing around buying trolleys full of random gifts for people. Plan ahead with both your gifts and Christmas catering to be super intentional with what you buy instead of becoming an impulsive last-minute buyer. Make a list of who you want to get a gift for and then you can keep an eye out for the perfect present for them. Leading up to Christmas there is business everywhere. Make a list of the gatherings you need to attend or host and what you need to bring. Plan all your supplies ahead of time so you make sure you organize to spend your money on things you actually want and use. 

Gifts

When deciding on gifts for loved ones, ask your self a few questions:
How and who made it?

What is it made from?

What is its packaging?

Does using this item encourage eco-living?

Also, you can influence the types of gifts you receive. When people ask you what you want, let them know what you actually want. Make a wish list so that you know what to say when people ask.

Use alternative wrapping paper

Australians will use more than 150,000 kilometers of wrapping paper this Christmas – enough to wrap around the Earth’s equator almost four times, new research from international aid agency CARE Australia has found. Instead, try these options:

Brown paper: It is recyclable and compostable and can be made to look ready pretty by adding natural decorations.

Reusable gift wrapping: you can use fabric and look up tutorials on how to make pretty bows or use gift boxes or bags

Repurposed paper: Children's artwork or newspaper can be jazzed up to use as gift wrapping.

Let go of what doesn't spark joy

I'm gonna use a quote by the inspiring Marie Kondo and that is to only keep what 'Sparks Joy'. That goes for your Christmas schedule. Don't overload yourself with running around to events and errands that don't actually ad jy to your holiday season. Give yourself permission to say no to invites.

Ditch the Christmas waste

Those Christmas cracker bob bon things with the cheapest of cheap plastic toys and paper hats no one likes..... You can give those a miss. Or go all out on some quality sustainable ones or reusable ones with nice hats and miniature gifts people actually love. You can also pass on other gimmicky things you do "in the spirit of Christmas" that you actually don't care for.

Food for the earth

Blow your family away with a yummy recipe that not only is good for the planet but is good for you. Use local produce and create an epic dish. Perhaps look up a few "plant based Christmas recipes" on Pinterest, Google or Youtube and try a few out over December so you also have practice (saves stress on the day). Bonus points for using homegrown food, even home grown herbs helps the planet out. 

Enjoy

I dont want you to suffer from eco-anxiety over trying to make your Christmas sustainable. We live in an unsustainable world. We wont see change from a small amount of people living 100% sustainably. We will see it when we all start shifting our ways and inspiring those around us to do the same.

Why don't you save this list, and check it twice. Reflect on the points in the article as you make festive decisions and have a Merry Christmas.