your old workout clothes are good enough
when spending money feels productive, but really isn't
Any fresh start feels like a good excuse to do some shopping. This is because buying a bunch of ‘stuff’ makes us feel like we’ve made progress on a goal.
→ A new workout routine warrants a fresh pair of leggings.
→ Building muscle mass requires protein powder.
→ Cooking at home would be more fun with a new pan.
Last month, I did exactly this. I bought new hiking shoes hoping they’d make me want to go hiking. The hike is still pending.
Why do we do we buy stuff when we set new goals?
Buying things releases dopamine, which makes us feel good temporarily. This dopamine lets us reap early rewards associated with our goal before even starting. Of course, buying new gear doesn’t mean we’ve made any meaningful progress toward losing weight—it just feels like it.
Shopping is a cheap—or rather, expensive— way to pretend you’re making progress on new goals/habits.
What’s more, is that we hope our new purchases— and subsequent loss of money (i.e. loss aversion)— will provide accountability to stick to a new habit. You’ve spent money on it now, so you can’t back out. Of course, all the half-empty jars of protein powder should serve as a reminder that this ‘accountability’ inevitably withers.
I’ve made a list of things you might be tempted to buy in January, but might reconsider:
New pens or fun stationery for all the resolution tracking
Stainless steel containers, because you heard microplastics are bad for you
Protein powder because getting in 180g of protein per day seems impossible
Books, the unread ones on the shelf just aren’t cutting it
A Kindle, for similar reasons
Supplements you don’t even know you really need
Workout clothes
Skincare to help with the post-holiday acne
Personally, this year I set out (once again) to cook from home more. After all the festivities and dining out, I’m craving healthy, home-cooked meals. I felt like a new pan—like this one or this one—might make cooking easier to stick to.
I actively decided against a new pan until further notice. Trust me, I was very close to buying one yesterday.
What can we do instead of spending money to feel productive quickly?
Simple: make progress on smaller goals. Part of why we buy all of this stuff is because we’ve set big goals that feel unattainable. Shopping offers a way to gain control.
Instead of shopping, completing small goals can provide all the motivation we need. Small accomplishments give us confidence to stick to harder goals (e.g., losing weight, making more money, finding a new job).
A list of ways to feel productive in January without spending money:
Tidying or deep-cleaning your house—YouTube if you don’t know how.
“Project Pan”—emptying as many (makeup) products as possible.
Decluttering your closet. I love Allison Bornstein’s closet editing system.
Selling clothing on Vinted— I made €380 in 2 days last time I did this.
Try intermittent fasting. I feel a daily sense of accomplishment after a 17+ hour fast. It requires no effort, if done right. If you’re a woman and you’re new to IF, you might like this book.
Disinfecting your electronics after travel. At least, cleaning your screens.
Challenging yourself to cook most of the recipes in your cookbook(s).
Setting out to read one book per month that you already own. The problem isn’t the book, it’s that reading is hard. Track progress with a reading challenge on Goodreads. I didn’t complete my 2024 goal one, we’re changing that this year.
Flossing daily and actually brushing your teeth for the full 2 minutes twice a day. My dental hygienist says 5 minutes is best (lol).
Reviewing your 2024 spending in your banking app. Decide which categories need work, when you spend most, how much you’d like to save etc.
If you still feel the itch to spend, I think these are a few solid options:
Paying for repairs on clothes or shoes.
Cleaning products that make cleaning more fun (we love Scrub Daddy).
A new toothbrush. Enough with the wooden ones!
A simple, ugly notebook that’s not too precious to use (like this one).
Bloodwork, so you don’t buy supplements you don’t need.
Candles to elevate at-home dinners (the simple kind, not the fancy ones).
A few mantras to end with
→ “Buying stuff does not equal making progress”
→ “It’s ok to start with smaller goals”
→ “You don’t need new stuff to start a new habit”
→ “Sense of accomplishment lasts longer than dopamine from a new purchase”
Were you tempted to buy anything before starting a new healthy habit this month? I’m curious.