It’s January and with the start of a new year, I’m setting intentions and goals for the year. It’s been tough to be optimistic what with everything going on in the world, but one small way we can all help is by consuming less. Everywhere we look – be it social media, television, the internet in general, your phone, everyone is trying to get you to buy something, consume more.
Social media influencers in particular are the biggest culprits. Sometimes I go on TikTok or even just Instagram and Facebook and see these influencers trying on loads and loads of clothing and wonder when did it become ok to share yourself with the world while getting dressed? Maybe I’m old fashioned in some ways. Maybe I’m just old. I just find it an odd thing and yet, it generates so many views and exponential engagement. And all it is doing is pushing more consumerism. As our planet literally burns, because of climate change and our own over-consumption.
I’m not saying I’m any sort of saint. Shopping for me has always been a kind of therapy. And quite possibly a sport. Lord knows I don’t do any other sports. But put me in a store with a certain amount of money to spend, and I’ll be the first to finish, spend every dime and get you the most for your dollar. But in trying to declutter my closet over the past few month, loading giant trash bag, after giant trash bag into my car and dumping them in donation bins, I realized I need to stop consuming so much.
It’s so easy to do. Especially late at night, scrolling through your phone, seeing an ad for something that catches your eye and before you know it, you’ve purchased it and it will arrive on your doorstep in about two days. Then what? How much clothing and household gadgets and things do we really need? As I loaded those trash bags into my car, I could only think of the dollar amount spent on those clothes and how little I really enjoyed them.
My first resolution for 2025 is to buy nothing except things I actually need. And to not overbuy or stock up on things like beauty products, or household items until I actually run out. I’m certainly not the first to pledge this. Finally, under consumption core has hit the social media world and now I’m seeing more de-influencers. I think this is wonderful and necessary.
In the meantime, I will continue to declutter my still overflowing closet and once that’s in good shape, move on to the rest of the house. So far, two weeks into the month, I’ve not purchased one new thing. And I’m returning the car seat covers I ordered last month as they just aren’t what I had hoped. The new car doesn’t need car seat covers if I’m just more careful and better at caring for it.
Anyway, I hope this inspires some of you to do the same.
