In the last few years, my household has averaged a couple of packages arriving at our front door each day. This consumerism in action was getting out of control, and I was inspired to write about it. It’s become a fairly normalized practice, especially among younger generations. I can’t imagine this to be healthy or productive. People love stuff, but how come? Why do we feel the need to make never-ending purchases? Consumerism has convinced us that our happiness and social acceptance are tied to our purchases, a process that has caused considerable damage to our well-being. In actuality, we grow as people and find joy not through our material possessions but rather our connections, which can be achieved through simple living.
Research has shown that extraneous purchases do not increase our happiness levels after our basic needs are met. Further, the excitement from newly acquired items dissipates quickly. So, I’ve attempted to compile a list of reasons why we buy in excess. First, people upgrade their possessions to feel like they’re upgrading at least one feature of their lives. Certain individuals believe that acquiring items is synonymous with personal improvement. Instead of doing the inner work required to truly better ourselves, we update our products. Buying the latest gadget, beauty product, or trendy clothing item feels like self-care. We ensure our items are in working order rather than our mental health.
The desire to shop isn’t only a facade for advancing ourselves. Another key component to the rise of consumerism is retail therapy. I frequently see people joke that shopping is their coping mechanism, but all jokes have some truth to them. If there’s a minor inconvenience, they add items to their cart and proceed to checkout. We mistakenly believe buying things provides us comfort and fills a void by giving us something to look forward to. I view it as a control thing. We feel we have little to no control over certain aspects of our lives, but we can control the quality and quantity of our possessions.
Ultimately, material pursuits fail to compensate for our perceived flaws. We use it to make up for our shortcomings, but we are not truly evolving. This practice prevents us from confronting the real trouble in our lives. We’re more inclined to impress others with our possessions than with our best qualities, and who we are as people.
Accumulating too many items has negative consequences. Here’s the logic. Each item I own is something I must keep track of in my head. I have to be cognizant of where to store it, when to use it, how to utilize it, where to wear it, and how to dispose of it, among other considerations. As might be expected, this expends a great deal of mental energy. The more items I have, the more I’m bogged down.
Naturally, the state of our habitat has a powerful impact on our emotional well-being. Living in a home that’s in disarray can engulf our minds. When you do away with physical clutter, you minimize mental overload. Your mind is freed up to attend to the more important things in life. For instance, I can prioritize my career and hone my craft as a writer. I find I have better ideas and can think more clearly when my living space is stress-free. My mood and emotional state are lighter and more positive. I can pursue activities or hobbies I’ve always wanted to. Subsequently, it allows me to be there for the esteemed people in my life.
Letting go of unnecessary items gives us more time and mental clarity to address the facets of our lives we feel we have lost control of. Minimalism diverts our attention and energy towards personal growth. An emphasis on possessions should not take precedence over nurturing our relationships, especially the one we have with ourselves.
These realizations did not come easily. The catalyst for these changes was a particularly rough period in my life some time ago. My solution was to eliminate everything unnecessary so I could focus on how to pull myself out of this place. I donated many items that were not serving me and clothes I no longer wore. With my well-being on the line, I couldn’t handle negative distractions. Anything that was not conducive to my success and healing got the boot.
This stripped-down approach can be applied to the digital world, another thing we consume in excess. I recently deleted my Instagram and TikTok accounts. I don’t need to keep up with the lives of strangers through a screen. There’s no beef; I simply don’t want to feign friendship with people I haven’t talked to since high school. Additionally, I don’t watch influencers. I can only concentrate on what’s going on in my life. When I catch up with someone online and become aware of their struggles, it takes a little piece of me each time. Not interacting helps me limit mental expenditure. Most influencers who create online content are not offering anything substantial beyond entertainment. If I can’t think of anything positive I’m getting out of it, I won’t engage.
Even under minimalism, there are necessities we can’t avoid buying. It is not equivalent to deprivation; you can still own quality items. The essence is to consume mindfully. Minimalism is about living with the least amount of items necessary for you, and that looks different for everyone. I’m not advocating for you to get rid of most of your belongings, nor am I suggesting it’s possible to live without certain things. That’s for you to decide.
Clothing addiction, in particular, was the issue for me. Even with this, I still use fashion as a creative outlet. However, I steer clear of impulse purchases and resist the temptation to buy a new outfit for every occasion. Now, I’ve equipped my wardrobe with fewer versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits that stand the test of time. I also value quality skincare, makeup, and beauty products. Although, I don’t fall into the hype when a product goes viral and I get told I need it in my life. I finish all my products before considering a new brand, and I don’t have more than two of any one type of product.
This is not a beginner’s guide on how to get into minimalism, but I have some tips. I go by the saying, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Every item purchased is intentional and thoroughly researched. I carefully consider how much it will benefit me, often spanning the course of months or even years, for more consequential purchases. If I’m not dying without it, I can certainly wait to buy.
Yes, I was indeed a bona fide shopaholic in the past. My epiphany was this: Nothing physical, nothing tangible, no material possession, item, or object has ever made me happy. Happiness does not derive from that. To date, my family and close friends are the only things that have brought me joy. (Fine, you can throw in my pets). Connecting with people is all I need. I have never found solace in objects. They have never soothed any hardship I was going through. I’m comforted by connection.
In short—and I don’t care if it’s corny—we should be content with what we already have. A simple life is a happy one.
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