Consumerism is bad for your mental health — but did you know it also contributes to physical illnesses on a global level?
What Is Consumerism?
Consumerism is more than being an active consumer. It is, as Investopedia defines it, "an economic and social system that encourages the consumption of goods and services as a means of attaining wellbeing." Furthermore, consumerism is linked to the Keynesian idea that spending forms the foundation of a healthy economy.
Karl Marx, who most economists would agree made a decent analysis of the functioning of capitalism, expressed how this works on a global scale quite nicely when he wrote that capitalism "must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connexions everywhere."
What does that look like in practice?
Well, I'll offer myself up as a case study. I just came back from holiday and indulged in a little retail therapy along the way. I just have to look around myself to see, for instance, a nice dress made in Bangladesh, keyboard caps made in China, crisps and candies made in Denmark, spices from India, and the list could go on.
Some of the things I see as I look around me were surprise gifts from a friend with a serious Ali Express problem. She'd have ordered those to be shipped to her home in one European country, from China, only to ship them to me in another European country. That's consumerism in action, and most of us have come to take it for granted.
It might take the form of fast fashion or foods from all over the world — but if most of us are going to be honest, it's happening right in our homes and minds, without us even noticing it.
How Does Consumerism Make Us Sick?
You bet that consumerism can have a serious impact on mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, we're more affluent, on average, than our grandparents were — and we certainly have more stuff. We never, on the other hand, seem to be satisfied with what we have, and always thirst after more.
We use consumerism (buying stuff) to feel better about ourselves, but the feeling is temporary at best, and we often feel guilty immediately after. Indeed, hungering after material goods can take time away from the things that really matter — like nurturing the relationships with the most important people in our lives.
That's not what we're here to highlight today, though. No, the impact excessive consumerism has on our health is also more physical. Take these shocking facts, for instance:
- Global trade has been implicated in the spread of pandemics that include COVID-19 and Ebola. Air travel, which also often has consumerist undertones (easy global vacations) was responsible for spreading the coronavirus across the globe so quickly.
- The impact can also be less direct. Deforestation has been implicated in the rapid spread of malaria to new areas, for example. Deforestation isn't just the result of logging but takes place to make way for new commercial ventures, the demand for which exists due to consumerism.
- Indeed, this same process has driven climate change since the very outset of the industrial revolution — as demand rises, so does demand, so do factories and the infrastructure to support the supply chain, and so does pollution. Climate change is already costing lives, and the problem will increase exponentially in the future.
- This ever-expanding scope of manufacture-related activity also places humans in closer proximity to wild animals, leading to the risk that animal viruses will cross over to people.
What Can You Do About This?
If you're reading this, it's unlikely you're going to influence global policy. (Frankly, world leaders have better things to do than read SteadyHealth.) That doesn't mean there's nothing you can do, though!
You can cut down on excessive consumerism right away — excessive meaning you don't really need all that stuff, after all. Here are some quick tips to get you started:
- Don't buy fast fashion, fast home decoration or furniture items, or fast consumer electronics. Invest in much fewer, but quality pieces that will last. You will be happier with them, and you won't feel as guilty.
- Buy locally from sellers with sustainable practices when you can — reducing fuel costs and supporting your local economy.
- Try to buy more local foods as well. If you're like me, you won't want to give up on all the exciting things that come from all over the world. You can, however, buy vegetables and meat locally, and continue to get the spices that make your meals exciting from other countries. You can also commit to cooking more meals from scratch and doing away with processed foods.
- Leave space to buy things you want but don't need, but seriously cut down on that habit if it's a problem for you.
What Happens When You 'Give Up' Retail Therapy?
If you buy significantly less stuff, one of two things can happen in financial terms:
- You will save money.
- You will continue to spend the same amount, but on higher-quality items that you'll be happier with. They will also usually last much longer.
Mentally, you'll hopefully find that:
- You no longer want to spend money to feel better.
- You'll give yourself a well-earned pat on the back.
- You'll feel happier, or you'll find a better way to deal with feelings of emptiness, like spending time with friends or going to therapy.
Health-wise, if you buy a lot of stuff you don't use, you'll have less stuff gathering dust. That makes your home easier to clean and improves your indoor air quality.
We know people like to buy a lot of stuff just before the holidays, but maybe it's time to take a different route this year?