How to Grow Less Attached to Things, at Home and Abroad

This post is collaboration with two of our partners.

If you’re reading this because you feel slightly more materialistic than you’re comfortable with then you’ve come to the right place!

What is materialism and why does it matter?

In essence, materialism is the value of physical things such as possessions, money, beauty etc. over characteristics, experiences, and people.

Is being materialistic bad? Well, not exactly. But science says it could be making yourself and those around you, miserable. Below are some signs you might be materialistic. 

You tend to spend impulsively

Have you ever ended up dumping a bunch of shopping bags on your bed after going out for basically anything that is not shopping, whilst wondering ‘how in the hell did this happen?’

You blacked out and went into a shopping frenzy, that’s how. And I’m guessing this isn’t the first time, right?

Sure, you could be a shopaholic, but is it possible that there’s a little more to it than that?

You may have good intentions when you go out, or even no intention whatsoever to buy something. But the thing is if you’re materialistic, you’ll end up buying things that you may kind of want but definitely don’t need.  

You have trouble budgeting realistically

There’s nothing like budgeting for the hell of it. Debt and emergencies aside, if you’re income is enough to cover your expenses and you still overspend then materialism could be behind it.

Did you decorate your living room for the 3rd time this year? Buy a new car, yet again?

Sure, most people don’t have or stick to a budget, but if you’ve actually tried and you still catch yourself trying to find ways to spend your money that isn’t necessary or even productive, then this could be a red flag.

How to Turn it Around

Alright, on to brighter days already.

Materialism isn’t an illness but it is a life-degrading habit and you can luckily turn things around if you’re determined to become a better person who lives a meaningful life.

Here’s what you can do:

Dig deep

There’s always a reason behind our personality quirks, it may be something much deeper that you don’t even realize is a problem. What emotion or need are you trying to fulfill by buying things?

Are you lonely or bored or does buying things make you feel important or adored? Finding the reason behind your materialism may not be an easy task but once you do that you can find a healthier way to deal with it.

Clear away the clutter

This one may sting a little. Getting rid of the things that you’ve spent so much time and energy on accumulating can definitely feel wrong in a way.

But it’s necessary to break from the materialistic lifestyle in order to move forward. What do you do with all that stuff you may ask. Sell it, donate it, throw it out. Just get rid of it.

Find meaning elsewhere

When all the stuff and the time you spent on it is gone, you may find yourself wondering; ‘so now what?’ Needless to say, you may have to find other things to take up your time and energy.

But rather than just take up some random hobby, shift your focus to something that will truly better your life. Have you wanted to try meditation or yoga?

It may seem ridiculous but building healthy habits can help you on your way to self-improvement and enlightenment if that’s what you’re looking for.

Change your perspective

You may have noticed that changing your mindset from a materialistic one is not only challenging but it will require a complete change of perspective.

You will need to start thinking about things differently than you did before.

Instead of focusing on things like money, status, possessions, brands, and popularity ask yourself what the people and things you value have to offer you in terms of kindness, commitment, joy, fulfillment, and truth. Figure out what really matters to you and only pursue things that will bring that to fruition.

Invest in experiences, not things

Things will make you happy for a minute or two, but new experiences? Those things will give you a lifetime of incredible memories. Experiences like going somewhere new with the intention of enjoying it rather than bragging about it.

When is the last time you went on a truly inspiring and enchanting vacationThe point of traveling is to enrich your soul and your life with a quilt of experiences that will keep your soul warm and toasty for the rest of your life. So, do you fancy an epic vacation?

Work on yourself

This isn’t a one time deal, just like marriage, or anything worthwhile it will take consistent effort to maintain your new and incredible lifestyle. You will have to be committed and caring and loyal to stay happy and fulfilled.

If you’re questioning whether or not it’s worth it, maybe you should ask yourself if staying on your current path is worth what it does to your life and your soul. Do you really feel inspired or deeply joyful?

If the answer isn’t an immediate and resounding yes, then it’s time to make a change.

This post is collaboration with two of our partners.

Hi! I’m Megan,

a Scorpio sun and Libra moon who left her job in the music industry to travel and write full-time. Since then, i´ve explored more than 60 countries in the hopes that you will, too.

The world is made of magic and so are you!

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