All of us have felt the dopamine rush of ordering online, especially when we can have it delivered within the next two days with the click of a button. We can get the new trending item from TikTok Shop, but what happens when these decisions become a habit?

We live in a culture today that provides constant stimulation, and with that comes advertising. Influencers telling you to “run and don’t walk,” to buy an item that you absolutely need. With social media and companies creating an environment that we must always spend, or own the next new thing that we don’t necessarily need, habits of overconsumption and overspending are created and encouraged. 

What is it?

Overconsumption can be defined as the act of using and buying more resources, content, or products than necessary. While most people just see the word “overconsumption” as a buzzword and use it to describe excessive product purchasing, it can also be used as an adjective for the excessive content and media we consume. It often happens over time, and mostly unintentionally. All of us have seen ads in one form or another, but in the modern world, it is unlike anything we have ever seen before, especially with social media; many times, we are not even aware when something is an ad.

How to Spot it

A large portion of overconsumption can be attributed to clothing, or the fact that we can have too much of it. Examples of this can include purchasing clothing frequently but only wearing the items a few times, or two-hundred-dollar clothing “hauls” from fast-fashion brands. Another example can fall under single-use products that are thrown away after only one use; we see this in plastic bags and food utensils, makeup products, and even cleaning products. An additional category, but not as often thought about, is even technology– buying the next new phone even if the one you have already works fine, and buying technology for small forms of convenience but not for necessity. 

Why does Overconsumption Matter?

Overconsumption impacts all of us, whether as a consequence of others or of us doing it ourselves. It creates excessive waste and increases the demand for unnecessary products, therefore using more resources and production that can and has been damaging to the environment. Overconsumption also has an impact on us financially, preventing us from saving money, spending it on items that will not be used for long, and these impulse purchases will add up over time. Furthermore, it can also put us in a box, pressuring us to own or even be the next trendy thing, not allowing us to be ourselves.

How to Fight it

The first step to fight overconsumption is to be aware and to ask questions such as, “Will I use this regularly?” “Do I really need this?” or “Were my purchases influenced by advertisements or current trends?” and then reflect on your answers. Choose items that you know will be durable and last over a period of time, and try to fix something first before immediately buying it brand new. Awareness and reflection are the key to making mindful and grounded decisions and purchases that help us financially, environmentally, and can even help us be more of who we are.