Is your home cluttered with things you don’t need? A lot of us feel that way, and our society places a lot of value on material possessions, so we feel the need to get more and more stuff. But it is possible to step back, become less materialistic and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
But how do we do that? These actionable tips can help us get started:
- Limit your social media use - Seeing people’s luxurious-looking lives on Instagram can make us feel like we’re missing out and we need to buy and have more to keep up. So if we cut down on how much we look at that content, we’ll be less likely to feel that way and be more content with what we have.
- Value experiences over material things - Focusing on things we get to do and enjoy, rather than things we acquire and have is another way to move away from materialism. While the excitement of buying new material things doesn’t last, the memories of our experiences stay with us for a long time.
- Practice gratitude - Being thankful is a powerful tool to help shift away from that always wanting more mindset. You appreciate the things you own more and eventually, stop feeling the need to constantly buy more.
- Declutter your living space - Organizing and getting rid of stuff that doesn’t make you happy can help you relax and enjoy your home more. All that clutter can make it feel like your stuff owns you, but calmly deciding what you actually want to own and what you can easily part with will help reduce materialism.
- Indulge in healthy hobbies - These can help us find real meaning in life outside of possessions. Hobbies like gardening can help us appreciate the beauty of nature and the world around us, and crafting can help us connect with others and our creativity.
- Shift your focus onto the needs of others - If your concern is helping others, it’s a lot easier to stop worrying about the kind of car you drive or what brand your shoes are. People will appreciate the help and you’ll feel good giving your time and energy to that, instead of your own wants.
- Realize that you can’t take it with you - Big picture? All that stuff you collect in life is only temporary and when you look at it like that, it can make accumulating things less appealing.
Source: Clever Girl Finance
Scott's Thoughts:
- Not only can you not take it with you, your kids or loved ones will have to deal with all your stuff one day when you’re gone and do you really want to put that on them?
- There is a fine line between clutter and hording. Many are further along on the latter than they think.
- As I age, I want less stuff.