Beyond the Cart: Stepping Away From the Cycle of More

Let's talk about the Consumer Holidays. You know the ones — those days right after Thanksgiving when retailers pull out all the stops to boost their bottom line with flashy markdowns. Black Friday got its name because it marked the time when stores’ profits moved “into the black.” Then came Cyber Monday in the early 2000s, riding the wave of online shopping and giving us even more opportunities to fill our carts.

And let's be honest, as much as we like to consider this the season of giving, the holiday deals don’t just encourage us to buy gifts for others. Much of what we buy is for ourselves, often including items we don’t truly need but feel tempted to grab because “when are we going to get a deal like that again”? Guilty as charged! 

Last year I decided to run a little experiment. I opted out of the Consumer Holidays altogether. No Black Friday shopping, no Cyber Monday deals, and not even early bird gift buys. Black Friday in store shopping was easy enough to avoid since this introvert prefers to avoid the crowds, but Cyber Monday tested me. My favorite yoga leggings and facial cleanser were nearly half off! Still, I stuck to my plan and learned a powerful lesson: they both went on sale again a few months later. As for gifts, I still found meaningful, thoughtful things for everyone, without the frenzy. The moral of the story is that we don’t need to rush to buy. Making the choice to be present and slow down can save money, reduce clutter and lets us enjoy the season with more calm and intention.

As this holiday season approaches, and I reflect on last year, it got me thinking. What if we took these days back? Instead of bringing retailers into the black, let’s bring ourselves into the black, by investing in ourselves and our communities.

I like to think of it this way: we each have different kinds of banks. Our body bank, which benefits when we nourish ourselves with healthy food, movement and rest. Our relationship bank, which thrives when we spend time with family, friends and our community. And our future bank that fills when we save money, reduce clutter and create lasting memories.

There are so many intentional ways to spend the week after Thanksgiving that don’t involve consuming. Ways to fill OUR banks rather than retailer banks. Here are a few ways I’ve found helpful to prepare ahead for the Consumer Holidays, and some inspiration for alternative ways to spend those days. 

Unsubscribe and Unfollow: There’s powerful psychology behind the ads we see in emails and on social media, which is why reducing exposure is important. Start by unsubscribing from marketing emails. There’s no need to do this all at once, small actions make a huge impact. Each time an ad lands in your inbox, hit unsubscribe. On social media, unfollow accounts that feel tempting. Start now and by the time the Consumer Holidays roll around, your inbox and feeds will feel less tempting. I applied this to my own email and within a week my junk mail was nearly eliminated. 

Once your inbox feels lighter, take it a step further and delete shopping apps from your devices. It may seem scary since the FOMO is strong within us! Just remember, nothing is permanent and they can always be downloaded again later if needed. In the meantime, notice how often (or not) you actually reach for them. 

Choose Local: If shopping is absolutely necessary, choose local businesses over big box or fast fashion. Apply mindfulness practices while browsing. Pause, take a breath, and make purchases that feel right, not forced. By shopping intentionally, we invest in our future bank by saving money and preventing clutter from creeping into our homes.

Rethink Gifting: Talk to family and friends about approaching gift giving differently. Buy experiential gifts that create memories rather than clutter. Consider concert tickets, restaurant gift cards and one especially close to my heart, yoga classes!  These all help us make healthy deposits into our personal banks. For many years my family took vacations together rather than giving material gifts. I have many fond memories of those vacations and I’m so grateful that we spent that time together. 

Get Outside: Instead of heading to the mall or scrolling, get outside! I absolutely love REI’s “Opt Outside” campaign and respect the company for closing for the day. Getting outdoors can create the same dopamine hit that shopping does, but in a much healthier way. It fills our body bank with sunlight, fresh air and healthy movement. It also fills our relationship bank if we invite friends and family to join. My husband and I have been doing this more and more. Now the long weekend after Thanksgiving feels like a time to refresh rather than deal with crowds. 

Volunteer: When the pull to shop feels strong, volunteering offers a meaningful way to redirect that energy. Giving our time, whether serving meals, organizing donations, or supporting a local food pantry, helps us reconnect with genuine abundance. Each act of kindness becomes a deposit in our relationship bank, strengthening our connections with others and with ourselves. Instead of filling carts, we fill our spirits, creating the kind of joy and fulfillment that no sale can match.

Declutter instead: One of my favorite ways to reclaim the Consumer Holidays is to spend the day decluttering! Removing excess from our homes, and preventing more from coming in, is a powerful energy shift. And since it's the holiday season, why not make it as an opportunity to give? Think of how much joy your donated items might bring to others, or how the money saved might be put towards something more meaningful.

During this holiday season, let’s choose differently. What if the season wasn’t about racing for deals and more stuff, but about slowing down, reclaiming our time and filling our own banks. By consuming less, we make more room for gratitude, generosity and joy. After all, isn’t that what the season is truly about?

If this message resonated with you and you’re craving a calmer start to the holiday season, I invite you to join my Cyber Monday Virtual Home Refresh on December 1, 2025. Click below for details or to sign up.