The holiday season always seems to come sooner each year.
One day, the leaves are just starting to fall, and suddenly, stores are packed with red and green displays, sales signs, and countdown clocks reminding us that time is running out. Our inboxes fill up with “exclusive deals,” ads follow us everywhere online, and the pressure to get ready starts long before the season even begins, at least in the U.S.
In all this rush and noise, I often wonder when we stopped focusing on time with loved ones and started overconsuming in every part of the holidays.
Overconsumption today looks like the pressure to search for the “perfect” gift, even when no such thing exists. It’s adding extra items to your cart because they’re on sale “for today only.”
Hopefully, we all know that it’s a trap to get you to buy the item I should know. It’s the quiet guilt that creeps in when you feel like you didn’t do enough, spend enough, or give enough. Social media amplifies this pressure by presenting curated holiday scenes, beautifully wrapped presents, coordinated pajamas, elaborate decorations, and more.
This year, the excitement over Starbucks’ limited-edition ‘Bearista’ cup made this pattern hard to miss. The glass cup, shaped like a bear in a green beanie, was part of Starbucks’ holiday collection. Like the Stanley Cup craze, it became more about status than actually using the cup to drink from. It turned into just another status symbol.
People lined up before dawn, hoping to grab one. Some stores sold out within minutes. Videos online showed customers calling multiple locations, driving from store to store, or waiting outside in the cold just for the chance to buy it.
Those who missed out saw them appear almost immediately on resale sites for triple or quadruple the original price. Something that was supposed to add a bit of holiday cheer turned into a source of frustration, disappointment, and competitive urgency, all over a cup.
The Bearista craze wasn’t a one-time thing and won’t be the last. It’s part of a bigger trend.
The holidays have slowly become a season focused on scarcity, limited releases, and a constant push to buy before things sell out. Brands know how to create excitement, urgency, and the fear of missing out, such as every limited-edition release, countdown timer, and “while supplies last” tag that makes it feel like joining in is the only way to be part of the holiday spirit or that we are missing out.
But when I think back on my own favorite holiday memories, none of them involve a must-have item or a viral product.
I remember crowded kitchens filled with laughter of family. I remember quiet evenings spent watching movies with my family. I remember the warmth of being around people I love, the comfort of familiar traditions, and the stillness that comes with slowing down. Those memories didn’t require anything more than time and presence, yet they have stayed with me longer than any gift ever has.
Overconsumption doesn’t just fill our homes with stuff; it fills our minds, too.
When we’re always comparing, scrolling, shopping, and rushing, we lose the calm and reflection the holidays should bring. The season can start to feel like a checklist of decorations, gifts, outfits, and plans instead of a meaningful break. The more we try to keep up with trends and expectations, the further we get from what really makes the holidays special.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. We don’t need to reject the holidays or stop giving gifts. Giving can still be thoughtful, joyful, and meaningful if we do it with intention. We can pick gifts that matter instead of buying just because we feel we have to.
We can ignore the pressure to chase every sale or trend. We can focus on experiences, shared meals, walks in the cold, movie nights, or simple moments together. I remember as a kid, we just made cards.
The holidays don’t have to be loud to be joyful all the time. They don’t need extravagance to feel special. And they certainly don’t need to be defined by what we buy. When we slow down, simplify, and pay attention to the moments around us, we remember what the season is really about: connection, presence, and appreciation.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the holidays and buying gifts for my friends and family. But honestly, some of the things I see online are just over-the-top. It really shows how much we focus on having things, especially if it’s seasonal. Sometimes I wonder if people are trying to fill a gap the holidays leave behind after they leave.
The best gift we can give ourselves this year is permission to step back from the chaos and just give us time to relax and reflect. By spending less, stressing less, and enjoying more while we can. Let’s highlight what makes the holidays unique, about quiet moments we’ll remember long after the decorations are put away, not about pressure or perfection.
