Stuffocation - 6 ways Experiences beat Stuff

Having everything we thought we wanted isn't making us happier. It's bad for the planet. It's cluttering up our homes. It's making us feel 'stuffocated' and stressed - and it might even be killing us.

Reading that on the back cover of Stuffocation: Living More with Less immediately grabbed me. But this is not just about stating the problem. The back cover continues...

With intriguing insights on psychology, economics and culture, Stuffocation is a vital manifesto for change. It has inspired those who have read it to be happier and healthier, and to live more, with less

The book is in basically four parts. Part one outlines stuffocation and its harmful effects on our health and happiness. Part two looks at how we got 'stuffocated' - the start of the 20th century materialistic culture.

In part three we get into the here-and-now. The author looks at 3 different alternatives to materialism and stuffocation - with real examples.

Minimalism

In a way this is the direct opposite of materialism. Deliberately reducing the number of objects you own. You may have heard of things like the "33 item wardrobe" or the "100 thing life".

Simple Living

An example of this is living in a simple house in the country, being more self-sufficient and separate from the consumer world that continually asks us to work and buy, and work and buy, and work...

The Medium Chill

An alternative to the 60 hours-a-week, corporate ladder lifestyle. The medium chill is being happy to work 3 or 4 days a week. Maybe turning down a promotion if it means more stress and longer hours. It's about being willing to ignore the society pressure about getting the biggest fastest newest shiniest things and taking more time for the things you enjoy.

You may have guessed that I quite like the sound of the medium chill. But the author writes that none of these have the potential to be a significant new 'trend'. While he sees value in each of them, he thinks that each has its drawback in terms of becoming a widespread movement - the way materialism did in the 20th century.

He reckons most people would find minimalism negative (essentially anti-materialism), simple living too regressive (it's not everyone's cup of tea to grow crops or chop firewood for heat), and the medium chill as being like normal life but in slow motion.

The author's answer

His answer (part 4) is experientialism. Valuing the experience of doing something rather than owning something.

He finds that facebook is already starting to spread this new trend. Think of the photos your friends share. Do you see many newly-bought items? Or do you see photos of your friends at the beach? Out at a restaurant? Seeing the sunrise? Going on a hike? Seeing their kids start school?

Experiences have proven advantages over material objects.
1. We often remember them as better than they really were.
2. Even the most exciting gadget is soon boring and part of everyday life.
3. Experiences are harder to compare than physical possessions, so there's less envy.
4. We view experiences as contributing to who we are.
5. They bring us closer to other people.

The author would add a sixth advantage - they don't clutter up our house.

Stuffocation: Living More with Less also contains some resources, starting with the quiz Have you had enough of stuff? and finishing with 3 steps to becoming an experientialist and the 7 habits of highly effective experientialists.

I see his point, but still think medium chill sounds pretty good.