With the average American exposed to 4,000-10,000 ads per day, it's no wonder that we are wired for consumerism. Buy this gadget. Watch this TV show. Eat this junk food. Skim this inflammatory news article. Get this car so you can take this vacation. If you don't consume, then you're a grinch, a bad parent, a bad American, a workaholic, or someone who is depriving yourself of "self-care" (for only $19.99 per month, plus shipping). These messages are far too easy to internalize, especially this time of the year.
Aside from the moral implications of outsourcing our happiness to material goods, our consumerism is one of the biggest reasons that the planet is getting into trouble:
1. Consumerism prioritizes a constant stream of new and cheaply-made goods. These are usually manufactured in an unethical way in countries with laxer pollution restrictions, and often break or wear out in a few months, ending up in the landfill. The energy use (not to mention the human rights violations) are serious.
2. It trains us to be dissatisfied, always reaching for the next thing rather than helping us appreciate and care for what we already have (such as the Earth).
3. It makes us believe that we should get what we want, when we want, regardless of seasonality, availability, or environmental cost.
4. It is based on the idea of infinite growth, which is simply unsustainable in a finite world.
If we want to live within the bounds of the planet we've been given, we need to dial back our buying in a powerful way. While we are consumers by nature— we all gotta eat, after all— we should also be creators. Here are some ways to question the consumerism in your life.
BEGINNER:
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| Wild sunflowers we saw on a walk one day |
Buy less stuff. This is really one of the most important things you can do for the planet— ignore anyone who tells you that we can buy our way out of this crisis. You can start by never purchasing anything on impulse, and by carefully considering whether the problem an item is intended to fix can be solved in a different way. (Many items are unnecessary in the first place, or can be borrowed, made, swapped, or thrifted.)
Consciously appreciate what you already own. Contentment is both a skill and a habit, and it must be exercised in order for it to stick. I find it helpful to make a list of things I enjoy that don't require buying anything new: taking a bath, hiking through the woods, reading a book, crocheting, visiting the library, drawing, foraging, building something out of found materials, cooking something from the garden or the pantry… Take a good hard look at all the things that bring you happiness that have little to do with what you buy. Focus on including them more in your life, and come back to them when you think you need to buy something to make you happy.
Prioritize creation over consumption. Everyone is capable of making something— drawings, meals, poems, flower arrangements, knitted scarves, beautiful photos, interior decor, music. Creating things is a rebellion against the culture that says everything must be monetized and gulped down.
Rethink what you consume. Consumption isn't bad in and of itself, but that all consumption has to be at the cost of environmental destruction is another lie of our modern culture. Consume library books, long walks, free knowledge, interesting videos, foraged and garden foods, swapped goods with friends, laughter, and conversation.
INTERMEDIATE:
Celebrate Buy Nothing Day. This holiday takes place on and in direct rebellion to Black Friday, and can be celebrated by doing anything that's not shopping— hiking, eating cake in your bathtub at home, doing anti-consumerism performance art in a mall… the sky's the limit. Learn more about it here.
Do a spending freeze. Fasting can be an effective way to look more closely at your consuming habits. Set an amount of time— a week, a month, a season— and don't buy anything but basic food and consumables (soap, toothpaste, gas for the car, etc.) during that time. Write down anything you want to purchase, but don't buy it. What does this list tell you about your priorities? How many of the things could you put off buying, or obtain in some other, more creative way? What do your consumption habits tell you about your impact on the planet?
Avoid advertisements. See my post "How to Combat Brain-Hacking" for specific tips.
Repair and repurpose goods you already own. Do you know how to mend a tear, do minor repair on an appliance, sew a button, polish wood, fix a leaky faucet, or replace a zipper? Learning these skills helps you extend the life of your belongings, keeping them out of the landfill.
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| Foraging is a wonderful skill to learn |
Make something instead of buying it. Do you find yourself often buying ceramic figurines, maxi skirts, scented candles, or fancy cheeses? What if you tried making them instead? Think about something you regularly consume and commit to trying your hand at it yourself. You'll have a much easier time knowing its environmental impact when you're the one making it.
ADVANCED:
Invite your friends to do a spending freeze with you. Solidarity can be fun! See if anyone else wants to tackle the problem of the planet by defiantly not buying stuff for a while, and use social media or other channels of conversation to spread the word.
Create opportunities in your community for people to share. It's your job to show that life is better when everything doesn't come with a price tag. Encourage people to visit the library with you. Give people opportunities to learn your knowledge and skills, and learn from others. Set up a tool or toy library, organize a swap meet, or ask neighbors with fruit trees if you can pick apples in exchange for making them applesauce. The more accessible we make these alternative options, the more people will take them, and we can lighten the burden on the earth.
Systematically develop a skillset that will start to free you from consumerism. Which skills, if learned, will help you avoid buying new things and further stressing the planet? If you learn how to alter and tailor garments, you'll never need to buy a brand-new dress again. If you learn candle- or soap-making you'll have a lifetime supply of gifts for your friends. If you learn how to entertain yourself, no one can sell you expensive distractions. Commit to figuring out the skills that will help you live more lightly on the planet, and tackle them one at a time.
Which of these challenges would you like to take on this month? What would you add to the list?
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