Happy Simple Living

I’ve done the January Money Diet five times now, and still, each year I notice how suddenly the forced break from spending and shopping seems to stir up something inside me that just wants. I want new pillows for the couch, and lamps for the bedroom. I want new clothes, and new boots. I want a new phone, and a new computer. I want more stuff, even though I truly don’t. My big goals are far more important than accumulating more stuff, and besides, I have more than enough of everything. So what’s all this wanting about?

In the fascinating new book NEW: Understanding Our Need for Novelty and Change (The Penguin Press, $25.95), author Winifred Gallagher explains why we humans are biologically and physically primed to engage with what’s new and different. The urge isn’t all bad. Neophilia, a new word for me that means “the love of the new,” has pushed inventors to discover new technology, explorers to reach unknown territories and researchers to find vaccines to cure diseases.

The problem is that in our current information age, we humans now face a dizzying number of potential new things and we’re not always coping with the abundance in healthy ways. I can certainly relate to this when I consider my own internet surfing habits; just the number of great blogs I’d like to read is dizzying and I often feel like I spend too much time at the computer.

Some of the overload is downright dangerous, from running up huge bills on a credit card shopping for the latest fashions to some teens’ addiction to texting on their cell phones while driving. More subtly, the perceived efficiency of new technology can affect some people to such a degree that technological productivity becomes more important than real interaction and relationships.

I won’t spoil the book for you, but fortunately Gallagher includes a chapter with specific ideas and advice for creating discipline, setting priorities and controlling technology addiction. Anyone who is interested in living a simpler life will enjoy reading this book, with its eye-opening exploration of our affinity for novelty and everything new.

To celebrate the January Money Diet, I’ll give away a brand-new copy of the book to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment between today and midnight MST January 17, 2012 about what new thing repeatedly tempts you (or alternatively, why you’re immune to the pull of the latest and greatest). I’ll hold the drawing and announce the winner on January 18.

Good luck!

—————————————————————————

Win a Deluxe Happy Simple Living Gift Basket

In honor of the January Money Diet, I’ll be giving away a gift basket of home and garden goodies plus several books at the end of the month. On January 31, 2012, I’ll draw one random name from everyone who commented during the month and that lucky person will win the gift basket. I hope you’ll stop by often this month and share your own ideas, thoughts and experiences about taking a 31-day break from nonessential spending.

—————————————————————————