BY Christian Warren Freed
There’s an old Alabama song that goes “I’m in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life’s no fun.” I think about that from time to time, especially about halfway through the summer. This year, I went to grab a few things to celebrate the Fourth of July and what did I see when I walked in the store? Scary pumpkin monsters and skeletons. Bags of Halloween candy on the shelves. Everything was turned to Halloween, and we still had two full months of summer!
Flash forward to the end of August and I was once more out grabbing a few things and what did I find when I turned around? You guessed it — baby Jesus staring at me from the manger in a nativity set. It wasn’t even September yet! Part of me instantly vowed that not one kid in my neighborhood was getting any candy for Halloween and I had sudden misgivings about setting up a Christmas tree at the end of November.
The commercial retail machine has gotten out of control. There’s no more enjoying the moment, the day. It seems we are forced to hit the hamster wheel at full tilt and never slow down. Valentine’s chocolates hit the shelves the day after Christmas, for crying out loud. When do we, the collective community, get to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment?
Don’t get me wrong. I love seeing all the lights and decorations, even setting up the Halloween displays in the front yard to scare the kids when they come looking for candy, or seeing that twinkle in the eye when the delight of the holidays sets in. These are special times to be enjoyed by one and all, but do we really need to start prepping for Christmas in July?
The petty side of me (and we all hear that little voice, whether we choose to admit or not) loves to blame two things: the Hallmark Channel and the pumpkin spice latte crowd. Endless Christmas in July movies when I’m trying to work my schedule to find a place at the beach while those latte folks eagerly crave the return of their favorite drink.
In reality, the push of Halloween or Christmas inventory is driven by a much more substantial machine and, surprisingly, it’s not all about stores making money. Welcome to the Christmas Creep. (I didn’t believe it was a real term either, but it is.)
If it feels like the “season” begins a little earlier every year, yes, retail stores love taking our money, but a huge part of this creep is because of you and me, dear readers. Supply and demand. The more we crave an item (I’m looking at you, pumpkin spice folks), or the more we think about it or feel the need to have it, the earlier retailers roll out this year’s displays.
Is anyone really thinking about Halloween on the Fourth of July? Not likely, but retailers study the trends and demands before making their decisions. I spoke with the seasonal manager at our Lowes Hardware store, and he said it all comes from corporate. Stores push out what is given to them when they are told to.
In order to compete and stay afloat, smaller stores and our local mom-and-pop shops are forced to follow suit. The business world is cutthroat on a good day. Woe be unto those who fall behind. Especially small businesses.
One positive takeaway from all this is a large chunk of the market is driven by what Forbes magazine calls “a growing appetite for holiday joy.” They’re not wrong. Every day, we are confronted by a world barreling on ahead; each moment, we are faced with decisions that impact the rest of our days. We pause on a single advertisement on social media and suddenly the algorhythm decides we MUST see everything related to it.
It’s all a deliberate shift in the market aimed at aligning our cultural, emotional, and financial flows for the betterment of all. Retailers get their earnings. Consumers get their prizes. Credit card companies reap their interest rates. The machine rolls on whether we are paying attention or not.
It’s a delicate balance. Retailers know there is the real possibility of consumers reaching fatigue. After all, it happens to the best of us. We get tired of seeing sequel after sequel of the same thing. Tired of having too much shoved in our face on a daily basis. Yet the trends continue for a reason.
There was a time when you didn’t decorate the tree until the days just before Christmas. When you didn’t get that bag of Halloween candy until the week or day of. Cultural shifts brought this upon us. It’s not a wholly negative thing either. We often take comfort in knowing our favorite holiday is approaching. It takes our mind off the troubles of the day. Gives us something joyous and fun to look forward to amidst a world off its rocker. The trick is finding a balance between the future and the moment.
So what can we do to slow down and enjoy the day? I don’t know about you, but I love sitting on the deck with a good cigar watching the sunset. I don’t need to think about Christmas three months in advance. I’ve also reached that comfortable point in life where I don’t need “stuff” anymore. The unnecessary has no place now and that is exceptionally liberating.
Let’s face it, folks, the “hustle culture” is increasing stress, reducing our quality time, and turning society into a twisted caricature of itself. Sometimes the best way to slow down is to actually slow down.
Consider this: Do you have to be always on the go? Do you have to chase that next trend? Does your mental and physical health deserve better?
Stress adds up, whether you understand it’s happening or not. Would it feel better to disconnect from your devices and screens and instead head out for a walk, tend your garden, or just sit and talk with someone?
Some of the main problems we collectively face are:
Stress and anxiety
Chronic fatigue
Burnout
Lack of real social connection
The constant feeling of never having enough time
The Japanese refer to all of this as karoshi or death by overwork.
Each of us needs to find ways to combat burnout. We’ve all experienced it, and the Christmas Creep doesn’t help. The good news is there are simple steps we can take to slow down and remember who we are and what can really make us happy.
Accept the fact that not everything needs to run at full speed.
Focus on one thing at a time and do it with purpose and thought.
Take the time to make connections with the world around you, whether that’s through personal interactions or simply tilting your head back to catch the warmth of the sun on your face. (Studies show a little outdoor time does wonders for reducing stress.)
Perhaps most importantly, make time to take care of yourself.
There’s no need to stay on the hamster wheel. The invisible race isn’t going to end, and it won’t mind if you step away to take a break. Enjoy your holidays. Enjoy time with friends and family. Most of all, enjoy being you. Each of us has a finite time on this planet. Why not enjoy it while we can?
Try this: Stay away from the Valentine’s candy that’s going to hit the shelves the day after Christmas. Just pretend it’s not there. Stay calm and take a moment to enjoy each occasion as it comes, Holly Springs. You deserve that much.
