Over the last decade, the concept of “mindfulness” has gained significant popularity beyond meditation, spiritual, and yoga circles, to enter the mainstream as a general term for improving mental and emotional well-being.
With trends like “No Buy 2025” encouraging people to adopt mindful consumption and financial wellness practices, mindfulness has been adopted by other sectors to apply to budgeting and lifestyle choices.
The “No Buy 2025” challenge has garnered thousands of posts on TikTok with many people sharing their personal rules for a year of buying less. Despite its “No Buy” name, the trend is more about putting entire categories of spending off limits, or cutting far back on nonessentials.
By being aware of our behaviors, thoughts, and sensations, we are more in control of how we perceive and interpret the elements of our environment, leading us to make conscious choices that align with our values.
In relation to this, Digital Journal heard from the firm Meditopia (a digital mental health solution). The firm has provided advice on making improved purchasing decisions in 2025 based on a ‘mindfulness’ approach.
Mindfulness as a road to happiness
Being mindful encourages us to appreciate the little things without wanting to possess more. In our world of rapid consumption, we tend to covet things, wanting to buy more and more as we enter a never-ending cycle of behaviors that can lead to unhappiness. Making more conscious choices, and remaking the world through better decision-making processes that are fully aware of our impact on the surroundings is a much more sustainable practice.
See Things Clearly as They Are
Mindfulness often relies on the concept used in meditation to “see things as they are”. By being present and aware in the moment, we don’t overthink too much or lose control of what makes sense around us. Practicing mindful shopping involves conscious buying and taking into account that we don’t own everything on this earth. In a resource-limited world, it’s important to bear in mind that our consumerist behavior may impact our reality.
Assess What We Really Need vs. Want
We each have wants and needs that we attempt to satisfy in our pursuit of a fulfilling life. Being able to identify what we want versus what we need is a skill that takes practice. Maybe that means you ask yourself things like: do I need this new pair of shoes or do I want them? There are no wrong answers here, but taking an inventory of what we have in the here and now can be a helpful way to begin appreciating our current reality rather than seeking more just for the sake of having more.
The latter can lead to unhealthy behavioral patterns where more is never enough, whereas centering ourselves with the “less is more” philosophy and implementing mindful purchasing habits can have more positive results.
Mindless Consumption vs. Mindful Consumption
Mindful consumption encourages us to take time and think twice before purchasing an item or a service in order to understand what impact our purchase may have on us, on society, and on our environment. For example, before buying another plastic bottle, we may think about how to repurpose our current plastic bottles.
Maybe we can use them to store sand from our holiday, propagate plants, or simply reuse them for their intended purpose of carrying liquids. Our intentions and practices have an impact, so again, taking inventory and checking in with ourselves by identifying our needs and habits can have powerful implications.
Eastern-Derived Approach
In Buddhism, there is a focus on a modest lifestyle, away from envy and cupidity. Generosity prevails, as well as being conscious that our time on earth is limited, the hope being to leave a positive trace of our presence here on earth. By understanding Buddhist philosophies, we can make reasonable purchases that are aligned with values of kindness, compassion, and love. We can always make better purchasing decisions that will be kind and compassionate.
A Daily Routine to Adopt Mindful Shopping
Mindful shopping doesn’t have to be all or nothing, but can rather be practiced in different ways, both small and large scale, still having a powerful impact. Maybe that means before you take another trip to the grocery store, you double-check your fridge to see if you do need more of something or if what you have will last. Or, maybe when you’re in search of new clothes, you take the time to research the brand to see if it’s ethically operated and sourced. Of course, we do not need to live like monks, although the life of monks is praised for being both fulfilling and happy.
But we can embrace mindful habits in our daily lives by consuming only what we need. In short, we should refrain from impulsive purchasing behaviors that are not necessary, and by doing so, we can live a happier, more fulfilling life.
