Social media now opens to a lot of opportunities not just in bridging the gap in communications, but also in the economy. Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other online shopping platforms have changed the game of consumer culture.
IGI Global defines consumer culture as social status, values, and activities and is centered on the consumption of goods and services. In other words, much of what a person does, what they value, and how they are defined in consumer culture has to do with their spending. This culture can sometimes go way out of hand that can lead to impulse buying, an unhealthy lifestyle, and an unplanned urge to buy things.
Overspending is a common challenge and, realistically speaking, no one is safe in avoiding such malpractice. There is a different level of satisfaction and happiness when it comes to purchasing products that speak so much to you — just like Mari Kondo, “This sparks joy.”
Mari Kondo, or famously known as KonMari, a Japanese organizing consultant and the star of Tidying Up With Marie Kondo on Netflix, teaches people not just how to clean and organize their things, but also how to stop themselves from buying things not according to plan.
Accumulating products from buying things unexpectedly, especially unnecessary and inefficient ones, challenges adults about living in a peaceful-looking home and a thicker bank account.
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According to Psychology Today, in 2011, researchers at Princeton University found that clutter can actually make it more difficult to focus on a particular task. Specifically, they found that the visual cortex can be overwhelmed by task-irrelevant objects, making it harder to allocate attention and complete tasks efficiently.
Furthermore, a 2010 study published in the scientific journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin used linguistic analysis software to measure the way 60 individuals discussed their homes.
Women who described their living spaces as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who described their homes as “restful” and “restorative.” The researchers also found that women with cluttered homes expressed higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Makes sense, right? Especially now that the Philippines is far from flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases and work-from-home assignments are still a thing. Productivity truly works in a cleaner and more peaceful workspace. Messy surroundings can truly be an eyesore that hinders you from focusing on your goals.
For as long as your mind and soul can resist, channel your inner Marie Kondo into a world full of shopping temptations.
