Retail Therapy: Can "Stuff" Buy You Happiness?

A few weeks ago Jaren sent me a study that suggested buying “stuff” actually triggered greater happiness than human experiences (travel, adventure, etc etc). I’d be lying if I said the hairs on the back of my neck didn’t immediately stand up when I saw it. But I’m not one to discount research just because I’ve become accustomed to a conflicting argument.

According to the study, people who spent money on material goods had a longer lasting level of happiness than those who paid for experiences. On the other hand, experiences brought about higher SPIKES of happiness than material things, but it faded quickly as the experience morphed into a fond memory.

This got me thinking: On the one hand, it’s common sense. Let’s say you buy a new car and you drive to work every day. You get to experience that new car every single day for as long as you own it. The “joy” factor only fades when you become bored with it—or maybe when you see another shiny car that you’d for some reason rather have.

Alternatively, let’s say you go zip lining in Argentina. For the moment you are zip lining, you’re exhilarated. It’s WAY cooler than any new car could ever be. But a few hours after the fact, the high you’ve been riding begins to wear off and you’re back to square one. The only ‘happy’ factor you get out of it is if you actively think of it or talk about it with friends.

So, again: at first glance, this is sort of a “duh” conclusion. THE PROBLEM—and the reason the hair on the back of my neck is still standing—is that receiving joy from material objects is as complicated as it is slippery. It’s not fair to say, “go buy lots of stuff because it’ll make you happier for longer!” without highlighting a major stipulation or two.

And the first stipulation that comes to mind is this: not all material goods are created equal.

How do you determine which material goods will bring you the most joy long-term?

Honestly, the best way to do this is to take inventory of your current collection of “stuff.” Which items bring you the most joy right now? Chances are you’ll see a through-line. I learned this first-hand by reading Marie Kondo’s best-seller,The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.

If there’s one book that changed my day-to-day lifestyle for the better in 2015, it was this one.

Kondo walks you through exactly how to analyze the stuff you own and in what order. She’s also a wizard at convincing you to throw things away (or donate). DO NOT skip chapters in this book. To get the full effect, you’ve got to read it cover-to-cover.

Anyway, the backbone of Kondo’s theory is that you need to PHYSICALLY TOUCH every single thing you own—if it does not “SPARK JOY” within the first few seconds of holding it, it’s worthless to you and you need to let it go.

It’s a weird sort of consumer therapy, but it works.

I mean, when you’re someone like I was, who sees your stuff as a burden, then of course it’s not going to bring happiness. When you walk around with the mentality “why do I have so much junk?” then your reality is that you’re surrounded by junk. That’s not a very pleasant headspace.

But see this practice isn’t critical solely for the sake of spring cleaning—it makes you appreciate the stuff you DO have, which is really the only way your stuff can bring you long lasting joy.

As I love to point out over and over in my happiness bootcamp, the blueprint for happiness is inherently intertwined with self-awareness. Doesn't it make sense to be more self-aware about the stuff you surround yourself with (and wear) every day? It's the only way you can fully appreciate it!

Even if you feel you "don't have time" to analyze your personal inventory—you can still use this technique next time you're out shopping. Really FEEL what a product does to you. Does it excite you when you touch it? Does it give you the warm and fuzzies? Great! It's a winner. But if you're on the fence, even a little bit, it's probably not worth the buy.

My experience with “does it spark joy?” taught me that I'm excited by items that are (1) well-crafted (2) one-of-a-kind (or not mass produced) (3) utilitarian (4) design-forward. Ever since clearing house (which by the way feels like a 10 ton weight has been lifted from my life) I’ve learned to pay careful attention to what I’m buying for myself. If it doesn’t fit one of the criterion above—and more importantly if it doesn’t TOTALLY spark joy when I hold it, I don’t buy it.

And the happy byproduct, of course, is that I'm noticing what I do have in a fresh light. I love each and every thing I own because I chose them. Because they spark something in me that feels good. Now when I look at the Pendleton blanket Jaren gave me years ago, or use my Chemex coffee maker, or lean against my brand new perfectly fluffable throw pillows, or hold that adorable new mug I was gifted over the holidays, I literally fill up with joy, like a kid on Christmas—but it's accessible every day, whenever I want a feel good moment.

So, in short: can you buy happiness by buying stuff? Yes, but only when you’re being truly conscious of what you’re buying. If the products you’re buying truly spark joy, and if you’re consistently discarding the items that don’t (lest they weigh you down), then the answer is yes.

If your interpretation of the study above is to head to the mall and wreak havoc on your wallet in the name of happiness, you might feel high for 15 hot minutes, but ultimately you’d be better off spending that cash on a zip lining adventure in a far off jungle somewhere.