"Looking for something to want." That statement resonates with me. After sitting in that realization, I've decided I'll be consciously working on spending less time doing that going forward.

One of the biggest things I explain to parents (preschool teacher) is the importance of boredom. It’s from that boredom that creativity blooms. Those quiet moments are the stage for inspiration. So when you have kids complain about being bored, I always say “great! It’s a start!” Or “that’s on you, kid!”

PSA for anyone interested: Kimberly Clark is back on YT - with a great new series on how to stop shopping. It's very nuanced and has some mindfulness aspects, and THAT song has now fully evolved into a multi-layered bop.

I started what I call a "stuff sabbath" day about six months ago and it has been working out great, for me, so I thought I would share. One day a weekend I don't do any social media, no shopping, no organizing, sorting, donating, tending to stuff. I struggle with being able to relax when things are messy and I have two kids so they are always messy. It has been great. I feel more present with my family, and the non-stuff day opens up time for me to be idle (so important!) or do something I enjoy. As a concrete example, last weekend I wasn't able to get to the Christmas decorations on Saturday. Because of my stuff sabbath, I was able to sit and watch a movie with my kid on Sunday, when I normally would have been organizing. I took the decorations down slowly over the week and it was fine. It is amazing how the task fills to the time we allot for it.

I’ve been a longtime watcher and supporter of your channel and have always identified so much with many aspects of who you are-a writer who loves beautiful things, who deals with overspending sometimes in order to fill emptiness within and distract from outside despair. But never have I identified more with one of your videos than this one. I became a mother in late 2022 and the amount of time I spent over the last year scrolling, finding something to want, looking for the perfect thing, filling and abandoning carts, and yes, overspending is unconscionable. This year I’m making a concerted effort to read more and scroll less and this video truly had the impact of making me feel like I’m not alone in the struggle. Thank you so much for this.

"Looking for something to want" really speaks to me.

when you asked instagram about the parka i responded that you should keep it because you were cold and things don’t have to be perfect. i said that because it’s something i’m trying to teach myself. i can use the things i own even if they’re not perfect or “the best” because sometimes good is perfect. like the phrase “done is better than perfect”. idk if i’m making sense. but i find myself using the excuse of wanting to find The Best to justify compulsively shopping.

Can relate: I probably spent 40 hours this week curating my Fragrantica page. I only allow myself to buy one birthday perfume a year, but the research/organization reverie is unreal

“I would rather do ✍️nothing ✍️than online✍️ browse” - sooo true! Loved this video and topic. Once again, we’re spiraling the mountain ⛰️ getting trapped in a cage that only we have the key to. This is so completely relatable. Thank you for reminding me to remember to make space and to breathe in that new, fresh air. I would adore it if you made this into a series - Let’s just sit in silence doing nothing together.

Replacing online window shopping with reading is probably a good one for me too. I have so many books to read, and I just never get around to it. Instead I scroll on my phone or "window" shop. I think actively replacing the search for something to do in idle moments with a reminder that books exist I do actually like reading them is an obvious fix that I just hadn't actively set a rule for. If I'm not doing something specific but I clearly want to be doing something pick up book instead of phone.

A list of healthy things to do when "I just can't right now and I need a break" would be so useful! Instead of shopping behaviours and other bad habits I have. Good for you for putting this into effect so effectively!

I feel this so much! Time and space to do nothing is so precious. My son has autism and I work full time and have used “online shopping “ as a “break” when I am stressed on and off for 11 years! Life is hard, beautiful and short and we don’t want to miss it. 2023 got a bit bad so I’m also doing a low buy and no Instagram in 2024. Love your work.

My family is in no-buy mode for January. No discretionary spending. No eating out, no clothing, and no Amazon (except for groceries). We have budgeted for years but had some huge unexpected house expenses in December on top of Christmas, and we just started using YNAB (highly recommend), which reminded us of our financial priorities.

“Nothing is preferable to the damaging something.” So many good nuggets in this video!

My biggest struggle with stopping online browsing and mindless scrolling is that literally nothing else that feels as easy to do. Your first strategy, reading, often feels much too hard for my ADHD brain. But the idea of replacing scrolling with doing absolutely nothing is immensely exciting to me, especially because I agree - nothing makes me feel more serene than just sitting and staring out of the window. Thank you for another wonderful video!

Was definitely needing this guidance today. I haven't been struggling with internet window shopping for products so much as using the internet for ideas for projects and get so obsessed 'researching' the perfect way to go about a project (makeup looks, knitting, crocheting, audiovisual collage) that I end up thinking thinking thinking and never creating. Will be instituting a similar restrictions and strategies that feel appropriate for my life.

I’ve recently been spending too much time on screens as well, and telling myself “just don’t do it” hasn’t been very effective. I miss the space, time, and calmer affect I had when I wasn’t as online. I think I’ll join you in this project to simply remove an “unhealthy” behavior without having the goal to replace it (yet) with something more “productive.” Your channel has been so illuminating and a real joy to watch over the past year! Wishing you a 2024 filled with contentedness ❤

I have been watching you since your no buy year, which in turn inspired me to do a no buy year. You have changed my life (truly) and are the reason I finally started tackling my debt and budgeting. I am now debt free (except for my mortgage). Your content is always thought provoking. You are articulate and speak to my soul. I just wanted to say, as someone who is childfree by choice, I truly appreciate the way in which your channel has not turned into "baby central." Once pregnant so many of my favorite content creators have become, well, not my favorite anymore because their content completely changes! The way you mentioned motherhood and your baby today was an integral part of the video, it leads to your "why" for this project. Of course, I love that you are happy and a mother. I love to see what you share about your baby on instagram and I am so happy for you and Joe. I'm just grateful the HLP content that I know and love has continued.

Hannah- I don’t often write comments on videos. But I am doing a no buy year. I watched all of your videos to prepare for my low buy and I just want to say thank you! You have changed my life! I hope you have a wonderful year!

I started keeping fish last year, and I've really enjoyed how it encourages me to "do nothing" more often. Sitting down to watch my fish is so engrossing that it's a special kind of meditation

Thank you for this video Hannah. Your struggles are very relatable. Oftentimes i try to implement too many changes all at once and end up giving up, so allowing yourself to be idle rather than forcing a positive habit is a great idea - small steps are the way forward. I also started reading books on my phone. This way i don't have to turn on another device, I can simply access different app on my screen and stop myself from mindless browsing. Good luck to you and to everyone else who's trying to regain some control over how they spend time and money 😊

This topic could not have come at a better time! I think we're at different stages of life but these feelings of wanting to simplify the spaces around us are the same. Thanks for bringing this up!

DRAAAAG ME MS POSTON - your perennial superpower of knowing exactly what I need to hear is once again rearing its beautiful head. I’ve recently moved and, between that and Christmas, have been shopping way more than usual (or my new usual post no buy) and it’s fully activated that ‘searching’ / seeking outside myself part of my brain again. Hadn’t connected all that time to the simultaneous unmanageability I’ve been feeling (more generally in my life and time) but you really hit the nail on the head. Thank you again for not only sharing your experience with us but also doing so in such a clear and communicative way 💚

For me, shopping has never been a problem; but consuming your thoughtful content this past year and going back to watch your no-buy, made me realize what IS a problem for me: and it's screen time--particularly, mobile games. I know *very* well the feeling of not being able to deal with life and turning to your phone for comfort. I lost so many days and weeks of my life, watching it fly by like you described, and feeling like there just wasn't enough time: because half of my time was spent in a screen sinkhole. And this last August, I followed a no-buy framework and cut out phone games! A no-game, if you will. Some things are okay, some things are once/twice a day, but most are just big fat 'no's. The shift in my life as a whole because of this has been so wonderful, (and I really thank your no-buy example for that) so I'm so excited for you in this next step of limiting shopping behaviors and freeing up more time for yourself! Getting my time back has been one of the greatest gifts of my no-game experience, and I'm incredibly hopeful for the space and time you'll make for yourself in the coming weeks. ❤

Hey Hannah, I'm a new subscriber, and 3 minutes into this video I had to pause to let you know - thank you for making this video. This type of content is incredibly relevant to me. I only began getting into makeup a couple of years ago, around the same time that I began to struggle with some chronic health conditions. My "shopping behaviors" around makeup/beauty have been a little piece of joy/escape for me, but it has resulted in some really bad habits - I absolutely feel you re: the Search for that perfect item. I can't wait to learn more and I hope I can implement some of the things you suggest. Thank you for such a thoughtful, introspective, and honest video. xo *edited to include Hannah's verbiage of "shopping behaviors" and going along with her definition of those*

Thank you so much for this, Hannah! My project for this year is to stop the mindless KZfaq watching. Intentional KZfaq watching-for example, watching my favorite content creators who have more to say than just buy, buy, buy, is fine. But I have already failed miserably because I didn’t know what to do instead, and by the end of the day after working a nine-hour day writing and editing, my eyes are too tired to read. Thank you for the idea of doing nothing! Long story, but before Covid, I did not have a TV. I got a TV during Covid because I thought I would need one to know what was going on in the world during the lockdown. Biggest mistake ever! 😊😂 I was so much better off when I would spend the evenings sitting out on the deck, listening to the birds, or like you said, just looking out the window.❤

This is exactly me. Time. It’s adding so much stress, adding to errands, creating shopping pressure, and I’m avoiding my life and personal goals. I can’t get that wasted time back. It’s bad habits. You verbalized all I have been thinking of for the past two months. I have a rule that I can shop after exercise, work and so long as I am rested. High bar! Thank you for your video!!

I absolutely adore the strategy of doing nothing. I remember an old Leena Norms video where she talked about (maybe a poet/book?) that referenced that there are some pockets of time where you just need to put yourself on ice and be there, still - it is incredibly healing! Thanks for this, it inspired me to rethink my pie chart as well 😅❤

This has been super helpful. It made me realize that I watch a lot of declutter (mostly makeup) videos as a way of getting reviews on products and filling my time and justifying it by saying "well, this person is getting rid of things so it's anti-consumerist" when I'm absolutely using it for consumerist reasons.

Shopping behavior has been my long time crutch as well! I like the idea of shopping/buying only on the weekend. I find that when I can buy something quickly and make a decision, it's so much easier on my mind than when I do too much research and hem and haw. It feels like my life and brain dont have the space for it and I keep trying to shove it in

Oh, yes. I hear you. Just one example, I have spent hours and hours looking at midi length puffer and other padded coats on line this winter without buying one. I have a padded waterproof coat that is still in great condition and fits me. Any occasion I could wear this coat I have been looking for, my current one would totally work. I know this and I decided at the start of the winter I wouldn't buy another coat in that category this year. So why am I looking for one still? Meanwhile I want to exercise more, cook more, study Italian, do yoga, go dancing etc... but I don't have enough time. I even distract myself while watching something on TV and have to rewind because I missed something because I was looking for a coat I wasn't going to buy!!! I always enjoy your channel, but I will be watching with particular interest this year.

Every time I come to your channel, I always gain a new perspective. I watched this video and then deleted the rest of the remaining games off of my phone as well as Tik Tok. When I look back at my life, I truly do not want to remember having spent countless hours playing mindless game and watching junk food content. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, about how I want to spend time and how I want to create a "life worth living" for myself. Your video just reinforced that for me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my own spending behaviors last year and going into this year. While I’ve made some strides in changing and challenging my own spending tendencies I’ve also started to become more observant of how I spend my time and the way shopping occupies my mind. I think this is a great challenge to set for yourself. For myself I am keeping a journal of my spending and I’m giving each transaction a star rating which is helping me to look more at my mood and emotions when I’ve shopped. I also am soo grateful for this community. There are always such wonderful discussions and we are all supporting each other. Also Hannah, I was intrigued by what you said about from the nothingness comes poetry. As someone who is trying to start writing I’ve found my shopping tends to be a way to run from the silence or nothingness. I think challenging myself to also live within that space of nothing will help me evolve as a writer. Thanks for sharing your journey and updates. ❤️ I’m always so appreciative!

This is exactly what I'm doing this year! A no-shop, more than a no-buy; I thought about doing a no-buy after binging your content for months and it just didn't seem like the thing I needed. My only real rule is "do not shop until you have made the decision to buy". I'm not just looking at dresses and seeing if one is beautiful enough to buy, I'm waiting until I think "I definitely want an XYZ type of dress and now that I have decided that I am going to spend my money on one, I will go look for one". I don't have a huge buying problem, I definitely go through periods of buying a number of things all at once, but it's never a financial issue. It really is an issue of time, time that I need to use to work and build my own business. I know that I will find something worth buying if I look for one. There is always another beautiful lipstick or a beautiful dress that is worth buying even when evaluated by my personal, well considered standards. If I go out and find and see those beautiful things, even if I don't end up buying them, which is most often the case, I have spent hours and hours finding them, falling in love with them, agonizing over the question of the purchase, and finally letting it all go when I decide that I just can't spend $700 every 2 weeks, because I can find $700 worth of things that I *love* every 2 weeks. When I do happen to come across something that catches my interest, I put it on a wishlist. Sometimes I do end up shopping, but when I realize and catch myself, I stop, put the things on the wishlist, and move on. They will be there for me to remember when I do decide to purchase something, and if they aren't, there will be something else that I can buy that works just as well. LOL I too am just now starting despite having thought about this for the last couple of months of 2023, but I'll take your video as a sign, and really commit.

I'm only two minutes into the video, but i came to that spiral of growth conclusion on my own a couple years back. I love that its a buddhist teaching. I'm taking it as a sign that I'm on the right path :)

love that idea of the spiralling journey! It makes sense too: sometimes it feels like I backtrack or have a "relapse" (not just in bad habits but more so mental health) but it's just that we have to confront ourselves again and again and probably a bit better every time! I'm on a forced no-buy/low-buy since I've been on benefits for a while now, it's actually been SUPER handy since I've been kind of an overspender (FASHION, SHOES

I am on a similar journey. I am slowing becoming a more minimal & conscience spender because I like the space & the ability to keep things tidy. Cutting clutter makes me feel good & to relax I listen to a-lot of podcasts while I walk my pup.

It is so lovely to listen to a woman who has retained her sense of self and her capacity to view all aspects of life equally, after having a child. You continue to inspire and reassure me with your content and your perspective ❤

Such a great video. Thanks! I’ve committed myself to the Rule of 5 Challenge for 2024: for environmental & anti-consumerism reasons, limiting new clothing purchases to 5 for the year & allowing myself no more than 4 secondhand purchases as well. Limiting my online browsing, as you suggested, would be immensely helpful to meet my own 2024 challenge, so I plan to adopt that strategy too.

I found your videos through Kackie always talking about you haha. I went back and watched how your no buy year changed your life and it motivated me to try it for myself this year with my own rules and intentions. I love your shopping content and if you haven’t heard it yet today, You have helped me. Thank you for doing what you do, in the way that you do it!!

In November i decreased my work contract to 90% FTE, and i take every other Friday off. This is me day. I do not touch stuff, i do not clean, i do not slave around the house, although i must say that i really enjoy chores, and having a clean and organized space makes me feel good. The truth is, having these 10% to me only cost me 10% of my income. This time is precious to me and i am not willing to whizz through it with a to-do or to-buy list in hand.

I have been on a bit of an anti-capitalist/declutter/no buy journey and as a person who likes mantras and slogans, my latest one is "shopping is housework". Has really helped reframe it as a task I have to do as a person who needs things to live, rather than a hobby I can indulge in for fun. Has been really helpful

What you said about time resonated so much with me. I don't really engage with social media mainly because KZfaq has already sucked enough of my time. There are creators I love watching, and videos that have really broadened my perspective, but it doesn't negate that it overall feels like I'm just spending too much time. I've been thinking for a while about needing to find some way of limiting the amount of time, and this video just emphasized that for me. Especially that in the end, it's not truly restful and is that "damaging something." Also, "out of nothingness that the evolution of the self arises and out of that nothingness poetry comes" was beautiful and feels like uncovering a facet of the truth of being human.

This is amazing. I have literally figured out/started the same thing this year - I realised just how important 'doing nothing' was because that's the space where you can actually hear yourself and it is much easier to go on from there. I would always feel that I had to do *something*, which would often lead me to endless scrolling when I didn't have an immediate answer to ''what should I do next?' I have trouble with anxiety and for a long time I've been trying to stave it off by scrolling, until I realised I was actually making it worse. Nothingness, on the other hand, helps me soothe it. In some ways, just doing nothing feels like a very base form of meditation.

You’re such a fresh of breath air. This video hits hard because everything you said happens to me. Thank you for being so transparent with us. We’re constantly evolving and I appreciate you for sharing your experience and your plan on how to overcome this.

I definitely have a tendency to ruminate over potential purchases. I can spend way too much time searching for the perfect item at the best price. Then I ruminate over whether I should spend the money. Often, by the time I finally decide to buy the thing, it's either unavailable or the price has gone up. 🙄 So I'm working on making faster decisions and not being a perfectionist. Because as you pointed out, time and attention are easily wasted browsing and (in my case) ruminating.

This made me smile, I remember these times. My oldest of 4 is now 24 years old. And when they say time flies, this is what they mean it’s after you have kids. I was reminiscing just yesterday scrolling through old pics. ❤ Enjoy your child let everything else come secondary, these are times you’ll never get back and you will miss one day. The rest all comes back around later; shopping, traveling, work, socializing… of course balance what you can.🌺 Best wishes on your new journey😊

Putting items in cart and checking out... just too easy and tempting sometimes... thanks for this talk!

My therapist recommended writing a self care list, which I think would totally work for this project. I have a list full of activities that are self care to me, from really low effort (burning a candle, drinking a glass of water, reading, knitting, sitting in the garden) to high effort (taking a walk, meditating, yoga). Whenever I feel really anxious (or in this case: when you feel like doing shopping behaviors), I take the list and ask myself what I can manage in that moment. Ever since I have been using this list (I keep it in a very visible place in my living room) I have noticed I am much more likely to choose a healthy habit over an unhealthy one. It's like my brain needs a little reminder of what's actually going to help me, so having my little self care menu really works. :)

Thank you for the food for thought in this video! My clothes nobuy is starting ok. I do a lot of browsing and "window" shopping online but without the urge to buy. But I don't want to rush it and tolerate my behaviour so far. When I circle back to this point on my learning journey I will work on my screen time. I bought the first things outside of my nobuy categories. I just bought the things I intended to buy and didn't add anything at the last minute. Just buying one thing and paying shipping for it feels weird but adding things I don't need and paying ultimately way more money is objectively more unwise.

Very timely. Yesterday evening i trialled a no screen time after the work day. For me the problem isnt shopping related it's entirely entertainment but 'm becoming aware that it's straining my brain and eyes and sucking my time. Yesterday i put my classical playlist on low because silence felt too heavy and did a lot of reading, a bit of sewing and had a long everything bath. In advance I had planned to do it every Tuesday but im now thinking perhaps more often

This was exactly what I was thinking about for the upcoming year -- half my time isn't taken up by childcare but it is being taken up by a different life project (community leadership). So I'm trying to reconfigure the rest of my work and personal and inner life. This was so so helpful to hear and I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes for you, and doing something similar along with you.

Oh gosh i needed to hear this. Ive been recovering from a two year long bought of autistic burnout and for the first year i was using endlessly scrolling the internet to self sooth (it wasnt all shopping behaviors but a lot of it was), but it doesnt actually provide my brain the deep rest it needs. This year has been a long slow process of reconnecting with myself and all the activities that used to make me happy. Im excited to see how this journey goes for you and wishing you all the best ❤

Resonated with so much you said! Thank you so much for this one!🧡

You’re reminding me of the book, “gift from the sea” about filling the well of self in modern life. So wonderfully timeless even though it was written in 1955. I’m listening to it on audio book and I love to lie on the couch and listen. Appreciate you Hannah!

I love your honesty, reflection and realism! These aspects make your videos on shopping behavior so valuable!

Ok, I'm about to do some processing and thinking out loud in this comment! This is EXACTLY where I am right now, just so so exactly. For me it is also not money or space, but time. I have been tracking all the clothes I buy since 2018. In 2019 I bought 151 items. Yes, 151! Since then, I have been committed to cutting down. 2020 I bought 50 (and it was really hard cutting down to a third - I did a lot of work that year) then in 2021 I bought 21. But in 2022 I went back up to 50 and in 2023 I bought 44, so though I have done a lot of work on this and I am proud of myself, I still need to cut down a lot. I've also been working on having a 100 piece wardrobe. That is counting absolutely everything except underwear - clothes, shoes, bags, coats, jewellery, accessories, loungewear, workout stuff, gardening clothes, Halloween costumes - truly EVERYTHING. I am hovering around 111 right now and hope to hit 100 by the end of the year, in part as things wear out. It feels good to use things to the end of their life! There are a couple of gaps, both practical (I will need new hiking boots this year) and emotional (I really want a perfect white blouse) but I am at a stage where I really love almost everything. It's a cohesive style and colour palette and I feel great in it. So buying 50 things a year like I have the last couple of years is, in other words, replacing half of my wardrobe. This is not ethical or sustainable or even, quite frankly, what I want to do. I have to remember that: as I'm so strict and numbers focused, everything new I bring in is going to knock something else out. And I look at my clothes and can't think of anything I WANT to take out. So there's really no space for new, right? On that note: I have been debating a complete no buy this year. I thought I was ready (as ready as you can be, I guess) but I am still going back and forth on it, a LOT. For the first couple of weeks this year, I have been on track. I have not bought anything and I had not opened eBay or Vinted even once. But the last couple of days I have started looking again and adding things to the folder on my desktop that serves as my wishlist. This has happened after a couple of bad nights where I got very little sleep - I know it's the tiredness talking. When I am so low or exhausted, clothes browsing feels like a nice thing I can do without taking too much energy. But it very soon stops feeling nice. And I don't want to fall back into that insidious pattern of browsing and scrolling and favouriting. I want to do actual things with my life! I want to walk by the sea! I want to play board games with my husband! I want to go to choir practise! I want to make some new friends this year! So I really need to keep a lid on that. It's a time suck and an energy suck and, weirdly, a creativity suck, too. I might try habit tracking for this one, you know. It's helping for other things, so a little row of ticks for the days I don't browse might be inspiring here, too. I am having a very difficult mental health time lately with terrifying panic attacks and I want to respect this and not put too much pressure on myself to be perfect. Previously even the thought of a no buy has left me feeling panicked and, while it doesn't right now, I know that I need to be a bit careful with myself, a bit gentle. So while I feel good at the moment about not shopping, a complete no buy for 2024 is truly too much to expect from myself at this point in my life. I think that's ok. Maybe instead of complete no buy, I will limit myself to 12 pieces (one thing a month) or 5 pieces (Rule of 5), as I recently read that's what we should all be cutting down to for the environment. I feel good about those numbers but I am going to try to commit to a no buy January first. I read a quote recently about sobriety where she was saying that she didn't choose to give up alcohol forever - she just chooses not to drink today. This has worked for her for 30 years. I can't believe how strongly this has resonated with me. I have thought about it so often! Today is all we really have, you know? So today I'm not going to buy any clothes. Tomorrow I can decide again.

Ugh. “Looking for the thing to want”. That’s so me. Thank you for articulating where you’re at as it helps me clarify further what it is I’m really really doing and why

Hi Hannah, I love that you put it all out there, including your struggles. I just finished my no-buy year and I documented it in my channel as well (doing videos really kept me motivated and gave me accountability). This year is a low buy year for me and I’ve set a VERY moderate budget 😩. I still struggle with wanting to shop, and I love the analogy that we are on a spiral. I talk a lot about spirituality as well so that metaphor rang true in my heart. Thanks again so much for inspiring others to check their consumerist tendencies (including inspiring me to document my no buy year in 2023) ❤❤❤

I have gone off the rails lately with shopping. I’m doing no buy January but that hasn’t stopped me from being on Etsy and poshmark constantly for items of clothing I have wishlisted over the past handful of years. I recently added up all of the money I spent last year in extraneous “beautiful things” and it was a lot. I think the thing that contributed most to the over spending was the fact that I was on these websites more seeing what was on offer and being so allured by them. As long as I’m looking I’m bound to find something I want. So I deleted the apps for the month.. we’ll see if I want to continue on.

I do absolutely get it. I prefer owning less and spent so much time on doing research. The best item regarding quality, durability and impact on our planet. I felt overwhelmed or frustrated due to far to many or nor options at all. I had to "allow" myself being less disciplined and following my principles a little bit less. Quelle surprise! Nowadays I do not shop uncontrolled or crappy items as I have learned to identify true quality over the course of the years. I do simply no longer spend hours on one simple purchase. Trust in your taste and in knowing yourself.

OMG! 😱 This video feels like that window you're looking out from stares into my soul! 😍 Except for me, it's an addiction to games rather than shopping. I keep wondering where my time flies... I will follow this series with great interest and try to implement changes in my life as well! This reminds me of your no-buy year (which is when I first subscribed to your channel) and I do hope you are going to share your thoughts and lessons learned the way you did that year! On another note : six years?!?!?!? 😱😮😭 I am proscratinating so bad!!! I perhaps should have thought about new year's resolutions... 🤔 Love this Hannah! ❤

Ah, yes… worshipping the god of Materialism. I am familiar. I’m always pulled to shop when I’m unhappy. I’m DEFINITELY trying to distract myself from my feelings with a cheap hit of seratonin or dopamine. (I forget which)….. Shopping addiction is alive and well in our consumerist society. And, it’s kind of like an eating disorder. You can’t just stop eating. People on drugs can quit and completely cut that behavior out of their lives. But, we will always need stuff. Things get worn down. We grow out of them, we use it up. It’s not as easy balancing act. I really applaud you for bringing a spotlight to this issue and sharing your own journey with us.

Hi Hannah, I fully support this new project of yours as it parallels one I’m also embarking on for the year. Coincidentally I’m also in Julia’s live meditation course and the benefits of pairing that with this seem ideal (tho not as a substitute as you mentioned.) More so the mindfulness and welcome opportunity to sit in silence with ourselves and create more space in our lives. x

Excellent and thoughtful video as usual. Thanks Hannah I will also be using some of these strategies. You had such a particularly poignant insight that resonated with me - that I *think* shopping behavior is a form of relaxation but the effect is actually not at all relaxing and gets me into a "rushed" state of mind.

I use a data driven approach to no buys. I review my most worn clothing from the past 1-2 years, identify my most worn brands or clothing stores from the clothing, and then limit my browsing to those stores. I also keep mini capsules for work and leisure, so I know what I have and what I need. From there, this dramatically decreases my need to shop and browse. I love it!

A lot of people, including myself, seem to be going through something similar at the moment...we are all deciding to spend less time online because theee are other things we want and need to do with that time and energy. It's so interesting to see. I don't have kids or spend lots of time online shopping, but I'm making similar changes because I'm spending too much time online doing other things...chasing interesting content essentially. It's robbing me of some great things. So it needs to be reigned in, just like you concluded. *edit* I wanted to add, that I think a lot of this behavior is because we use it as an escape or distraction. And because we have done it so automatically in the past it's so easy to fall back into it every time. Anyway, life and the world has been a lot and weird and I think we are using screen time as an escape.

I've been struggling with this time issue and thrifting. I am committed to secondhand or self-made clothes, but sourcing secondhand items is a major time suck.

I listening to this while driving my cat and I to the vet (an hour drive). It stopped her from yowling and calmed both of our nerves! ❤

I remember that very first no buy year, its iconic! Also that comparison of calling online shopping etc "research" is brilliant!

I have two projects/resolutions this year: 1: a $40 per month snack budget to become more mindful of how much i spend on snacks & how much i eat them in lieu of meals. So far I've noticed a lot of times where i wish i had a savory/nonsweet bread to "tide me over" while i do things like dishes in order to cook, but i dont end up doing the dishes or cooking 🤨 2: going outside for a social reason at least once a month. This one's going well, i spent eight hours hanging out with my firend yesterday and we have plans again for two weeks from now, and im smiling a lot more even just while puttering around my apartment

Currently snowed in and did a lot of browsing/shopping. Didn’t actually buy anything but keeping tabs on what I want to buy in the future, what things I like, new categories of things to buy. It’s so easy, but thank you for this inspiration.

Very best of luck. This came at a time I needed to hear just this. screen time is bringing me down. Swishing me. Making me less and I am letting it use me. I wonder if I can do just such a thing. Read and do nothing or simple breathing exercises. You are so sweet. Love you

I would LOVE to see. Video with your novel/reading recs!!!!

The spiral metaphor is such tea, i’m writing that down

Weirdly enough, & as much as this is going to seem OT, something unexpected has helped me curtail my shopping & shopping behaviours! Oct of 2022 i decided to go on a no buy, but I also decided to completely cut sugar out of my life. I've been borderline diabetic for yrs now & with each passing year my A1C tests were creeping closer to the point of no return (insulin). When I made the decision to stop eating sugar I truly didn't think it would be hard. I was sorely mistaken. Not only was it hard, but it's a daily struggle that I have to constantly hold myself accountable for! The ONLY sugar I allow myself is two teaspoons of organic cane sugar in my coffee. I don't drink fruit juice or soda or even eat fruit. No smoothies or sorbet, no sweetened yogurt. Nada. Every time I am presented with something containing sugar (I'm a professional chef so it's also a work hazard) I ask myself: "is it going to be worth it? Will being dependant on insulin possibly for the rest of your life, be worth it?" the answer is always a hard NO. For whatever reason, this discipline has spilled over into my shopping behaviours & although shopping isn't going to negatively impact my health, it works! I ask myself if it will be worth it & the answer 99% of the time is no.

I stayed up til 1.30am last night looking at my laptop "in a shopping way". I needed this! I could have done something more worthwhile like reading a book, or sleeping.

I appreciate the boundaries that you set for yourself. I think this is a very helpful practice.

I always admire your gentle and compassionate approach to everything in life. ♥️

Loved listening to your thought process on this! I am excited for you!

I needed this! I have a chronic illness and also a dog, and I’m finding at the moment that ive been doing almost “revenge bedtime procrastination”, but at any time of day. I think having her, although she adds so much love to my life, means that with the little energy I have in spreading between the two of us, and I often crash before I get to do “my” things, after I’ve done hers

This is great. It appears to be a trend everyone, including myself, have set as a goal for 2024. The one thing I did which helped a lot was unsubscribing from store/brand emails. Out of sight, out of mind. And quality over quantity - 100%. I ask myself "Is this something I would wear/use every day. Is this something I will wear/use in 10 years". So far, I am feeling good with these life changes which I started about 6 months ago.

This spoke to me and where j am at as well with online shopping. Love your guidelines. I’m focusing on separating things as well even by setting up focus workspaces on my iPad.

I have been thinking about how much time I spend consuming content, which does include browsing, but I've also gotten into the habit of always having a youtube video on in the background. I think I am going to find a way to work no-content time into my day

Shopping Behaviors is my real problem too - even if my DOLLAR SPEND is notably reduced, my TIME SPEND is wayyyyy increased. Love this angle of the conversation. Thank you for walking through it! 💜

I am in the same boat. I am going to follow your lead in spirit. I need to alchemize the shopping behaviors too. I appreciate you, and you sharing your journey. The circular path is very relatable and though I know it, I am still constantly surprised at it. I think our culture really emphasizes black and white thinking, the concept of 'winning' and being 'done'. I am going to relax into this invitation to deepen my presence into my life. Thankful for you as always!

This video came at the perfect time for me, thank you so much for making it and putting it out into the world 🥰 (p.s. absolutely chomping at the bit excited to get your poetry collection in my hands when the pre-orders ship!!)

Love the idea of waiting for the weekend to do shopping activities. I’m on a makeup no buy this year paired with a low-buy for all the other things. I want to get a lot better at my knitting so this has been really helpful at keeping my mind and hands busy along with satisfying my need to create.

This video helped to put into words something that I struggle with as well--"shopping behavior"! I have never had an actual spending or overbuying problem, but I do spend too many hours a week browsing or window-shopping online as a form of catharsis.

Thank you so much for your contributions to our growth. You and I are the same age and my daughter is 6 years older than your child. This life is so precious. In my time I have given up many things on the spiral path of healing, among them are alcohol and social media, all because they robbed me of the full experience of life and the precious moments of doing nothing. Like you, I have to be careful not to lose days to a gripping novel! But what really keeps me on my toes is my relationship with the thrift store. That's what I'm doing a no buy about until spring. Just to better know myself and my own hungry ghost.

Thanks for being real! This was relatable, helpful and inspiring!

Interestingly, I have started a no-buy year. Well, I started one back on November 1st and it's going really well. I kind of did the most with gift-giving this year, but it was all sanctioned and I didn't go over budget. I did go to the edge of the budget, just not over. HOWEVER, I just three days ago broke my no but for one thing - a timed cell phone lock box because my screen time has been off the charts. It has also cut into time with my little. I have found that I want to sit and scroll instead of sit and play with him because I just can't at the end of the day. I work with cancer patients and it's heavy. At the end of the day all I want to do lately is scroll and the habit has been out of control. So I had been thinking about this lock box thing to use after work in the evenings and then Julia mentioned it in this week's lesson so I took it as a sign. I'm not worried about this spinning me out buying-wise and going back on the no-buy has already happened. I consider this $25 break in the no-buy an emergency buy to be honest. Such a timely video 💓 always nice to hear you aren't alone in your struggles.

Your no buy year is how I first found your channel. I really love how your content has evolved! I definitely need to curb my behaviour when it comes to shopping in 2024! My issue area is art and craft supplies! I also have issues browsing which eventually leads to shopping.

As other comments have said, I absolutely needed this. I have all the same tendencies as you, so I'm going to try and challenge myself as well! I hope we see updates and check ins in a while!

I have lived in small places which required I ask “where am I going to put this or what am I going to get rid of in order to have this” over every purchase. It was good training but I have to remind myself to go back to it every now and again. I’m in a good place right now, the past couple years I’ve been on a quest to develop a skincare routine that really helped my dry, sensitive (skin cancer prone) skin. I think I have found a good, affordable, routine now. I found myself filling the time I had been researching ingredients looking at clothes online. I ordered a bunch recently. When the items came, I tried them on and asked myself whether I needed or really wanted this particular garment. I returned everything except a couple T-shirts.

I am always amazed how you are able to articulate something so well.. often times something that probably only lives in my unconcious; behaviour that I only recognize when you start talking about it. I am a mother myself and escape into my phone (browsing.. often for things my toddler might need) way too often. I need to make an effort to escape this vicious circle of trying to escape the stress (via shopping/browsing) without the result of being relaxed. Often I am even more stressed afterwards because there are actions I have to take after a purchase (go somewhere to pick it up, return it, post it etc.) I am always thankful for your thoughts and your ability to articulate and relay them so well! Wish you and your family all the best for 2024.

Why does doing nothing sound so luxurious? Thank you Hannah. The time I spend on online browsing has been the most damaging part of shopping for me for a while. You explaining your method for approaching it makes me motivated to come up with my own method. I may also want to examine my perfectionism - and why I want the perfect item and what I think the perfect item will give to me.

I’m in a similar place and I’ve been having very much the same thought. With kids and work requiring (and deserving) the bulk of my time, what precious few moments of me time I have are frequently spent staring at a screen. Your content has been transformative for me over the last few years. I’ve made marked changes in how I consume-content, material possessions, ideas, etc . I’ve developed routines I enjoy and basked in the glory of the small things in life that make me happy…whether that’s the chunky knit of a sweater or the subtle scent of my favorite perfume. Having less has made a HUGE impact on my sanity (I have a cross country move to thank for the great stuff purge of 2023 lol). I’m stuck with the thought that I’m addicted to screen time but I also greatly enjoy it. I love browsing Facebook marketplace looking for the perfect vintage furniture item to fill our new home with warmth and texture. I’ve had loads of fun creating my own version of a capsule wardrobe and learning about sustainability and the second hand market. I also scroll way too much on who knows what. So how do I manage the good-the learning, exploring, self-expression fun bits-without feeding the mindless scrolling monster who lives in my head and doesn’t let me actually live life as it happens? I wish I could call up that proverbial mountain and chat with the me on the next loop. I lost me for a bit, to work and post partum depression, mostly. I’m so excited to have me back and find new ways to be joyful in existence. I guess I’m afraid if I cut out too much of the screen portal I’ll miss out on something great, but if I DONT cut out screen time, I’ll miss out on something great. Anyone else up this mountain a few turns have some good advice? How do you find balance amid the chaos?

This resonated with me so much as a mom of two kids under four! The spiral imagery hit me so hard. Thank you for sharing!

Hi! I'm a follower of your channel since a few months back and OH how much I love it! Let's start by saying what needs to be said: thank you SOOO MUCH for your makeup reviews, they help the heck out! I'm also very pale, and struggling with redness across the face. I ordered the RMS foundation in shade 000, it arrived in the mail yesterday and OMG the colour match is SOOO good! And it doesn't look like makeup all over, so I am flabbergasted! I will continue to follow you and try your favourite products! I also got the green base from L'Oréal from your reviews/declutters, and it's a gem 💎 Thank you ❤ I hope you get some good time with your baby and will keep looking forward to your content 😊