It is easy to splurge on online shopping, especially when discounts and sale tags flash before our eyes. Marketing specialists study the psychology behind customers’ purchasing behavior. Thus, most advertisements are designed to lure people into spending their hard-earned money on things they seem to need but not really. We are living at a time when consumerism is at its finest because of social media. How can you resist being swayed by the tide?
1. Less stuff, more space
Minimalism is intentionally living with less in life to gain more out of it.
When was the last time you used that sandwich maker you bought on sale? Or the towels that come in seven different colors? If you hardly ever use things around you, they merely add to the clutter.
You can keep a table, chair, ceramic cookware,kitchen essentials, mattress, pillow, trash can, lamp, iron, vacuum cleaner, laundry bag, refrigerator, and other essentials for your daily living. Of course, you need not limit yourself. You can also own a guitar or a shelf of books if that’s what makes you, you. The point is when you own less stuff, you’ll have more space in your place. Practicing having less also creates a filter for what’s important and what’s not.
2. Less spending, more money
According to a study, the average Joe makes three impulsive purchases a week, 156 per year. They spend $450 per month impulsively, or $5,400 per year. Over the average American adult’s lifetime, this translates to an accumulation of $324,000 impulse purchases spending.
$324,000?! You could have bought a house with that amount had you resisted the urge to get the things you don’t really need.
When we spend less, we save more. Spending only makes us feel guilty; saving, disciplined.
3. Less stress, more sleep
Stress is the enemy of sleep.Stress can adversely affect the quality and duration of sleep. Insufficient sleep increases stress levels. Thus, we always have to keep these things in check.
If we focus more on the things that can bring a positive outlook in life or find the bright side, we can quickly gain peace and sleep at night. If we get enough sleep, we’ll recover and won’t feel stressed. According to a study, positive changes in our emotional valence also occur when our physical conditions improve.
4. Less talking, more listening
Listening is a skill that gets worse if we can’t wait to talk more. However, it can also be developed. Many people want to be great speakers, but rarely do we hear someone say I want to be a better listener. This is because it is difficult to listen since we are inherently focused on ourselves.
An excerpt in the book The Lost Art of Listening goes: “We must forget ourselves and submit to the other person’s need for attention.” Our brains work faster, and we often feel the urge to interrupt and let our thoughts be heard. If we practice less talking and more listening, we can learn more about others and form better relationships.
5. Less social media, more deep connections
Social media is the modern thief of time. Scrolling past our news feed when we are in a social gathering deprives them of the presence we ought to give. When we browse other people’s timelines or constantly check their stories, we tend to belittle ourselves and our progress since we see their highlights. But if we allot less time on social media and build real connections and work on ourselves instead, we will have more in life.
6. Less of the past, more of the present
Many people spend their most precious commodity on things in the past. Rehashing mistakes and reliving painful memories. This should be replaced with mindfulness and living in the present moment. Being present-minded helps you stay healthy and happy.
7. Less of the peripheral, more of the essential
If we undergo surveillance, we can see how much money we spend on unnecessary things. Time we spend on distractions. Effort pleasing people that aren’t worth our time. We must examine our values and determine what is really important so that we can have less of the peripheral and more of the essential.
In this day and age, being able to afford things and show them to others through social media is the key to acceptance. It is a rebellion to have less and show less. Less material things equate to more intangible things. When we practice minimalism and the overall concept of having less, we will undoubtedly have more in life.