How to have less stuff | Psyche Guides

Triggers: Being in a shopping centre; being with friends in a shopping centre; seeing something that fits with my style and is on sale; wanting to look good for an upcoming special event; believing I’ve earned it because I’ve worked hard.

Behaviour: Buying clothes that I think I need, but really just want.

Consequences: Enjoyment while shopping; feeling happy when shopping with friends.

• Make a concrete commitment to change your buying and storing habits.
• Put your goals in writing - this will prevent you from forgetting or changing your goals along the way.
• Identify what triggers and reinforces your buying & storing behavior.
• People are motivated to buy and store possessions for many reasons, only one of which is a functional need for an object.

To figure out what maintains your behavior, ask yourself:

Why you buy and keep hold of things you do not use?

What prompts these desires?

How do you feel right after you have acquired an item or made the decision to keep something?

• Make a concrete commitment to change your buying and storing habits.
• Identify the environmental and emotional causes and consequences of your behavior.
• Develop a plan to resist buying items you don't need.
• Use a one-minute rule when making purchasing or discarding decisions: allow yourself only one minute to decide.
• Track what you buy, store, and discard.
• Reward yourself for meeting your goals.

Consider what your recipients really want and need. The best way to do that is to ask them.

If you'd like to gift something to a person who has stated that they prefer others make a charity donation, then, by all means, donate to that charity if you agree with its values.