What are some recent moments when you’ve felt true joy? For me, this list might look like:
- Lying in my boyfriend’s arms after a long work week
- Burying my nose in my kitten’s toasty-warm fur
- My first sip of home-brewed espresso in the morning
What does yours include? I wonder if it has this in common with mine: None of my moments start with “I bought.” I won’t deny that there’s joy in consumption, of course. (I just thrifted a fantastic pair of designer pants, and I am thrilled.) But personally, I find that the high I get from consuming feels shallower than the joy that comes from connection with loved ones, communion with nature, or creating things. That’s reason enough for me to consume less. But there’s also the fact that reduced consumerism means less financial stress, a healthier environment, and reduced waste.
“I find that the high I get from consuming feels shallower than the joy that comes from connection with loved ones, communion with nature, or creating things.”
If you’re feeling called to opt out of consumerism, now is a great time to start. Think of it as a new form of spring cleaning. 🙂 Here are 99 ideas to get you started.
Mindset shifts
Whenever we make a big change in our lives, it’s helpful to adjust our mindset first. Consider a few of these thought exercises to start your journey.
- Start a gratitude practice. Consumerism relies on us feeling like we don’t have enough, so remind yourself of how full your cup is first.
- Consider what success means to you. We’re often told that “making it” means accumulating a lot of material wealth. But for many of us, a rich, fulfilling life comes from something different — like making a difference, being loved, or mastering a skill.
- Romanticize secondhand. In a culture that fetishizes newness, it takes cognizant effort to see the beauty in pre-loved items. But the reality is that thrifted and vintage goods tend to be much more unique (and often better quality) than what you’ll find new.
“Romanticize secondhand. In a culture that fetishizes newness, it takes cognizant effort to see the beauty in pre-loved items.”
- Shift from a buyer’s to a borrower’s mindset. If you usually default to purchasing everything you need and want, could you consider finding a way to borrow it instead? Your local library is a great place to start. But many cities also have bike rentals, tool libraries, buy nothing groups, and more.
- Make creation your default mode. Whenever you add something to your “to-buy” list, get in the habit of thinking, “Can I make this instead?” You might start with soap or bread, for example.
- Incorporate more pauses into your day. Sometimes, consumption happens when we’re running on autopilot — like buying an iced coffee we don’t truly want because it’s what we do every afternoon. Get in the habit of taking a beat before making decisions, and see what it yields.
- Ditch the deprivation mindset. Clever marketing makes us feel like we never have enough. Counter that message by taking stock of everything you have (material and otherwise). And don’t be afraid to use your “nice” things — like the good candles or the fancy dress — on a normal Tuesday.
- Read “The Art of Frugal Hedonism,” a guide to making anti-consumerism feel meaningful and — at times — indulgent. It’s the best “self-help” book I’ve ever read.
- Have grace with yourself. Consumer culture relies on a sense of urgency, black and white thinking, and the belief that you’re never doing (or being) enough. So, opting out of overconsumption also means letting go of these paradigms.
Mini-challenges
For those of us who like to gamify our lives, a self-imposed challenge can be a fun way to kickstart a reduced-consumption lifestyle.
- Don’t buy anything except for essentials (like groceries) for 30 days. Keep a list of all the things you wanted to buy but didn’t. It’s weirdly satisfying to read through at the end of the challenge!
- Or, make a “wait 30 days” list. Write down any non-essentials you’d like to purchase, along with the date. Then, wait 30 days to see if you still want to purchase them.
- Challenge yourself to “shop your home” next time you’re craving a wardrobe refresh or wanting to redecorate. How can you style items you already have in new ways?
- Use the entirety of your products, like shampoo and makeup, before you allow yourself to buy something new. It’ll feel like an accomplishment. 🙂
“Use the entirety of your products, like shampoo and makeup, before you allow yourself to buy something new.”
- Try to wear every item in your closet at least once for one month. It’ll help you realize what an abundance of clothing you likely have.
- Challenge yourself to give only experiences as gifts this year. Preferably ones you curate yourself, like a home-cooked meal or a tour of your favorite spots around town.
- For one month, take a day off of screens every week. Not only will it limit the media pushing you to consume, but it will help you be more present with what you already have.
- Challenge yourself to use up every item in your pantry before cooking meals that require ingredients you don’t have.
- “Detox” from your favorite brand. Is there a company you find yourself purchasing products from all of the time (whether you need them or not)? For one month, don’t buy anything from them and see how you feel!
Community and social practices
When we recruit those around us to resist consumerism, we can make a bigger impact. (Plus, it’s far easier to reduce your consumption when your loved ones are doing it, too.)
- Swap skills with friends (and friends of friends!) instead of paying for a service. You probably know someone who is excellent at cutting hair, house cleaning, or writing a resumé.
- Host “no-spend hangout” nights, where the activities focus on creating and doing rather than consuming. (Think a walk at the beach or park, playing a board game, or a PowerPoint party.)
- Form a local buy-nothing group if your community doesn’t yet have one.
“Start a skill-sharing circle. Everyone is good at something, so why not share it with others?”
- Build a neighborhood lending system for seeds, books, tools—whatever!
- Host a clothing swap each season for a free wardrobe refresh.
- Start a skill-sharing circle. Everyone is good at something, so why not share it with others? Recruit your community to teach one another valuable skills like sewing, sign language, or budgeting.
- Take turns hosting a monthly pot-luck with your loved ones, rather than going out to eat.
- Create a pop-up café in your home for everyone to enjoy a coffee in community. (We’ve loved seeing this trend on social media.)
- Start a free pantry where folks can donate excess shelf-stable goods. Make it clear that anyone is welcome to grab what they need from it.
Creativity and expression
The best antidote to consuming is, of course, creating. Here are a few ways to reconnect with your inner maker.
- Make art using what you already have, like junk mail or fabric scraps, instead of purchasing new supplies.
“Make art using what you already have, like junk mail or fabric scraps, instead of purchasing new supplies.”
- Make a gift for the next loved one who has a birthday. (Love this community-sourced list of ideas!)
- Learn a new creative skill using free YouTube videos. (Here’s one on watercolor and one on photography.)
- Host a “studio night” where you and your friends can work on your chosen craft (whether it’s writing, painting, baking, or something else) in each other’s presence.
- Write letters to five people in your life, telling them why you cherish them.
- Create a photo journal documenting a special period in your life. It could be the first month you bring a new puppy home, a vacation you’ve saved up for, or simply your favorite season.
- Create a craft from your culture of origin or from a culture you’re interested in.
- Upcycle an old item you’re not using into something new.
- Check out our list of crafts you can do without any special tools or skills.
Mindfulness and intention setting
Consumerism relies on us acting impulsively, so it pays to cultivate a mindful perspective. Of course, there are still going to be times when we act thoughtlessly — we’re human! So remember to aim for progress, not perfection.
- Set a time limit for your media consumption. When you’ve reached it, put your device down and pursue something slower, like reading, journaling, or going for a long walk.
- Track the feelings in your body. Especially in Western cultures, we tend to intellectualize our emotions. But they always have accompanying sensations in the body! Get familiar with what shame, urgency, and desire feel like for you physically so you can be aware when marketing evokes them.
- Unsubscribe! Take time to purge your email inbox, social media following, and anything else that encourages you to consume in excess.
“Unsubscribe! Take time to purge your email inbox, social media following, and anything else that encourages you to consume in excess.”
- Create a consumption journal. Whether it’s online or in a notebook, this can be a place to document what you’ve consumed (whether that’s tangible goods or media, for example). The important part is to document how you felt before, after, and during consuming. Do any patterns emerge?
- Talk about your choices. If you prefer speaking over writing, consider chatting about what you chose to consume and why. You can do this with a friend, using a recording app on your phone — whatever works for you! The key is to build awareness.
- Challenge yourself to do one daily task slowly. Whether it’s washing the dishes, commuting to work, or making dinner, do your best to do it with intention and presence.
- Learn to meditate. Much of what we consume — like alcohol, social media, or even coffee — is an unconscious attempt to change how we’re feeling. If we learn to sit with the sensations of our emotions, we’re less likely to avoid them.
- Consider the source of whatever you’re consuming. If it’s a material good, was it created sustainably with fair labor practices? Taking these factors into account first can help curb your consumption.
- Know that sometimes you’re simply going to want to indulge, and that’s okay, too. Part of being mindful is knowing when to give yourself a break.
Resourcefulness
One thing our grandparents definitely got right? Making the most of their resources. If you’ve drifted from making the most of what you have, consider this your invitation to return.
- Learn basic mending to prolong the life of your beloved garments.
- Master basic home repairs, like fixing a leaky faucet.
- Start cooking more foods from scratch. Here’s a beginner-friendly list.
“Master basic home repairs, like fixing a leaky faucet.”
- Grow some of your own food. (An herb garden is a great place to start!)
- Repurpose household items, like all those glass jars you have in your cabinet.
- Make your own cleaning products. All you need are a few pantry staples.
- Make your own reusable products, like cloth napkins and paper towels.
- Learn to safely forage for food in your area.
- Hold on to old buttons, fabric scraps, sturdy boxes, etc. You never know when you might need them for a project.
Wants vs. needs
Sometimes, the line between want and need can be blurrier than we’d anticipate. So when we’re looking to reduce our consumption, it pays to take a close look at what’s actually essential.
- Set budget limits on items that are clearly non-needs, like an impulse-purchase lunch when you already brought one from home.
- Challenge consumer myths about what you “need.” Fabric softener, air fresheners, or a bevy of specialized cleaning products? None of these are required.
- Before you buy something, ask, “What problem does this solve?” If it’s not solving a real problem, it’s probably a want!
“Fabric softener, air fresheners, or a bevy of specialized cleaning products? None of these are required.”
- Consider functional vs. aesthetic needs. While it may be true that you need a new pair of pants, do they have to be designer? Or will thrifted work?
- Contemplate what “version” of your life you’re purchasing an item for. Is it your current reality or an idealized fantasy?
- Ask yourself if you would buy the item if nobody else were going to see it.
- Contemplate whether the item would’ve been considered essential 50 years ago.
- Be mindful of overdoing the “just in case” purchases, even for reasonable contingencies.
- When in doubt, ask yourself whether living without the item would be impossible or inconvenient.
Ditching convenience culture
Instant gratification and overconsumption are two peas in a pod. Sometimes all we need to reduce our consumption is a bit of patience.
- Cook batch meals at home so you don’t have to grab takeout on a busy day. (And delete the food delivery apps while you’re at it.)
- Carry a reusable water bottle to avoid overpriced beverages.
- Avoid disposable products where possible. (For example, opt for refillable pens.)
- Embrace public transport. It may take longer to reach your destination, but that’s time to tackle your TBR list.
“Be skeptical of ‘quick solutions,’ like unreasonable diets or money making opportunities. It pays to play the long game.”
- Be skeptical of “quick solutions,” like unreasonable diets or money-making opportunities. It pays to play the long game.
- Carry nourishing snacks to prevent those hangry vending machine purchases.
- Ditch pre-cut fruit and vegetables. Invest in a simple handheld chopper if you need to.
- Avoid saving your credit card data to make online purchases a little more work.
- Air dry your clothes when you have the time.
More lifestyle adjustments
Finally, here’s a grab bag of even more ways to opt out of consuming. We hope you find something that serves you!
- Learn to prioritize long-term satisfaction over immediate pleasure. (Love the advice on this thread!)
- Create a capsule wardrobe, starting with pieces you already own and love.
- Figure out a skincare routine that works for you and stick to it. No need to continue trialing new products!
- Give away items you no longer need to help your community opt out of excess buying, too.
- Set an intention to stick to your shopping list when you make a run to the store. It may not feel good in that moment, but it will when you get home!
“Give away items you no longer need to help your community opt out of excess buying, too.”
- Buy clothes in classic cuts and neutral colors, so you never need to replace them for going “out of style.”
- Reuse your plastic bags until they deteriorate, then invest in fabric ones. Preferably from the thrift store!
- Try trading goods with folks in your community before buying them.
- Cancel subscription boxes that don’t fulfill your needs — especially those where you don’t know what you’ll receive.
- Take advantage of free community resources. There is more than just your library! Most communities have free workshops, events, and more.
- Avoid opting into the auto-renew function for any services you subscribe to. That way, you can make a conscious decision about whether to continue consuming it.
- Avoid purchasing seasonal decorations. Instead, source (responsibly) from nature! Try wildflowers in the spring, pinecones in the winter, and a dried leaf garland in the fall.
- Remember, cheap can be expensive. If you can, invest in a quality item the first time so you don’t need to replace it in a year.
- Participate in a CSA box.
- Consider what you can share with your community. Have bikes, lawn care equipment, or camping gear you’re not using year-round? Consider making it available for those around you to borrow.
Conscious consumption
Of course, none of us can opt out of consumption entirely. And that’s totally fine! It can even be a good thing when you use your powers as a consumer to support ethical businesses. Try these ideas for consuming with intention.
- Buy only what you actually need.
- Consider the full life cycle of a product. How was it made, how long will it last, and how will it be disposed of?
“Consider the full life cycle of a product. How was it made, how long will it last, and how will it be disposed of?”
- Prioritize purchasing from local small businesses.
- Choose products with minimal packaging. This may mean buying in bulk if you’re confident you’ll use the entirety of what you’re purchasing.
- Browse Reddit’s Buy It For Life thread for product recommendations.
- Find the best thrift stores in your area. Head there first when you need to purchase something.
- Once you buy a product, use it until it’s worn out. Then see if you can repair it.
- Choose food that has been grown or cultivated locally when you can.
- Refuse free promotional items that will end up in your junk drawer or attic.
- Support businesses with circular economy models.
- Prioritize purchasing items that are biodegradable, recyclable, or repurposed.
- Spread the word about reducing consumption. 😀
Remember: You’ve been conditioned to consume for many years, so it’s not a habit you’ll unlearn overnight. Nobody is expecting you to be perfect. We’re here to cheer you on along the way.
“Remember: You’ve been conditioned to consume for many years, so it’s not a habit you’ll unlearn overnight.”
Do you have more ideas to add to this list? We’d love to hear them!
Nicole Ahlering is a wellness writer living in Southern California. When she’s not writing, she’s combing the beach for shells, at the Pilates studio, sipping matcha, or doing crafts with friends. She believes the secret to happiness is slowing down.
