What is consumerism defination?
Consumerism can be defined as a lifestyle ideology that concludes personal well being and overall growth is linked and directly depends upon continuous purchase and frequent buying of material goods.
You may ask what is an example of consumerism? Here is the most commonly seen scenario..
“People think their status of living in society depends upon continuous purchasing of clothes or other items that are in trend.”
Buying Unnecessary Items
One of the most recent situations have happened where people were buying useless stuff toys just because everyone was buying at that time or worse; they want to upload a story of their purchase to show their peers. I can say with certainty, half of the people who have bought those, didn’t even fond of stuff toys in their childhood, yet suddenly they became a fan of it. Just because everyone was buying at that time, they got this urge to be included with those groups on social media.
A tip to breakout habit of compulsive shopping (unconsciously purchasing fashionable items):
Buying timeless fashion. Helps a lot in breaking chains of consumerism. It makes you look chic and it stays relevant irrespective of what is in trend. Buying with great fabric quality rather than buying cheap materials that are factory made. Buying these cheap fabric clothes not only support fast fashion but also harm the environment. I understand everyone buys those because we get these clothes at cheap rate plus they change with trend and fashion. When we are choosing consciously for our life, you can not leave the environment.
We can not expect from future generations to take care of environment if we don’t do that ourselves.
Why does Gen Z overconsume?
We you ask this question- why does Gen Z overconsume? Think about it, can we really blame them? They are born and brought up into different environment which is entirely driven by digital culture, influencers and algorithm driven content. They are being influenced by it. Now a days, everyone is buying stuff they do not need genuinely not only Gen Zs.
Most the of the needs are being created to influence people into buying those products. These urges are being amplified by social media.
But can consumerism be stopped? Anyone can choose consciously if they are willing to change these habits and if they are willing to be more of themselves rather than being driven by their social and digital environment. If they have this huge urge to be closer to what actually matters to them rather than letting their urges be controlled.
Digital consumerism
Consuming endless content in the name of getting information, most of it is useless to you. You know it. This is useless, you are never going to use or implement most of it but still consume like it your life depends upon it. You don’t even remember more than half of what you consumed but when you look at time, hours have passed.
I was like this also until I realized how much time and potential is wasted upon consuming about other’s life rather than creating and improving mine.
This dopamine scrolling only left me with this feeling of being lost, like I have lost interest in everything.. I end up feeling like a crap and worthless with loads of anxiety and stress. This is the number 1 reason on why I quit social media. I didn’t do it overnight. But started with only one app and then another followed by months..
You can start by limiting the usage.
Fear of missing out (FOMO)
Making sure to keep up with the trend.. is the another way of FOMO. It is the perfect mask to make sure you are not feeling excluded from the world. This perfect mask for hiding behind need for validation from others. You are buying the trend because others around you are indulging in it, and you want to keep up with the trend to be included, you don’t want to be left out.
Go on defend, what I am saying, I will wait until you keep up with the strong argument to justify this behavior and how it is useful to you and your life.
How consumerism affects the environment?
Mass consumerism means buying massive amounts of products which leads to excess waste, depletion of natural resources, makes more pollution.
Conscious Consumerism : How to become a conscious consumer
Becoming a conscious consumer is the answer to consumerism. It is not necessary if one thing/ product is necessary to someone, it is also necessary for you. Ask Yourself this question: Why i have this urge to buy this product? Is it really beneficial to me?
Conscious consumerism is about being aware of the impact of what you are buying. Purchasing with thought and consideration while considering environmental, social impacts of their buying habits and try to choose consciously.
I know it is difficult, it is not going to happen in a day. Practically speaking, you are not going to change every habit in a day, why should you? Improve one habit and then see the impact in your life, in your savings, your time and mood. Then choose.
Habit by habit, day by day. One thing at a time. See changes in your life and yourself.
Then take conscious decision on what matters to you the most.
Lets make our life consciously lived!
