Reducing Overconsumption in a Culture of Abundance

Take a look around the room you’re in. Are there any drawers bursting at the seams? Closets you can’t quite close? Or maybe multiple packages you have yet to open. Now ask yourself—when is enough, enough?

We live in a consumerist society driven by excess. Often, material possessions are seen as an extension of our identity, serving as a method to convey success, style, or even status to others. And, in the digital age, it’s never been easier to get what you want, with a simple click of a button on a social media ad, overnight shipping, and financing options that allow you to “buy now, pay later.” Yet, all of these possessions do little to actually satisfy us, prompting that next purchase for a hit of dopamine. However, many consumers are beginning to recognize the consequences of this cycle, with a growing number of them dialing back their spending and shifting toward more sustainable habits and products.

Many have realized that not only does our culture of abundance do little to bring us joy, but it has also led to the overextraction of resources. As of 2023, we are consuming resources at a rate 1.75 times faster than the Earth can regenerate.¹ We are stripping our planet of its natural resources and damaging our ecosystems. Ultimately, many of these products end up in landfills, contributing to environmental degradation and pollution. 

Overconsumption is a behavioral and cultural trap that can be challenged through nudges that change our perception of abundance. By nudging people toward longer appreciation, making “enough” more visible and appealing, and shifting identity away from consumption, we can reduce overconsumption to heal ourselves and our planet.