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Why We Overbuy (+ How to Stop)

Why We Overbuy (+ How to Stop)

Are you a struggling minimalist? If so, maybe you wonder why we buy things we don't need, despite the fact that our purchases don’t make us happy, send us into debt + destroy our planet’s precious resources. Inside: 4 reasons why humans are primed to accumulate as theorized in both evolutionary + behavioral psychology; 4 tips to rewire our biology + buy less, too.

These days, many Americans boast supersized homes, an outfit for every day of the month + 300,000 possessions, on average.

We also report high levels of depression + anxiety; we have debt, too.

Have you ever wondered why we continue to buy more + more, despite the fact that our purchases don’t make us happy, send us into debt + destroy our planet’s precious resources?

I do.

On this week’s show I divulge 4 reasons why we buy things we don’t need as theorized by both evolutionary + behavioral psychology. I offer up 4 ways to buy less, too.

Enjoy!

* Access this week’s Show Notes here.

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The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast
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The Cost of Constant Connection

In this era of relentless connectivity, taking an exit ramp from our digital lives has never looked more inviting. In fact, emerging science is now confirming what many of us feel: Smartphones are draining our cognitive reserves, shattering our focus, and keeping us in a state of low-level chronic anxiety.

To see if there’s a better way, reporter Courtney Lindwall shelved her iPhone for a $45 Nokia flip phone. Courtney is on the show today to discuss  the "dumb phone" movement, the logistical friction of navigating an app-dependent world, and why research says our brains are so desperate for a break.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] Continuous partial attention, instinctual muscle memory, and other ways in which our smartphones are working against us

[9:00] Gray scale? screen limits? Here's why the tools and tricks don't work for the vast majority of us

[14:00] Thoughts on our emotional attachments to our phones—and the emotional experiences they provide

[22:00] The psychological benefits of embracing a bit more "friction"

[33:00] Our brains are malleable, and we get used to a new normal quite quickly. Lean into that!

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My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

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