A certain level of consumption is necessary. We have to eat, drink, and clothe ourselves. We want to have a comfortable home and nice things.

There may have been a time in history when overconsumption was almost impossible. But now we live in a time of convenience. We don't even have to leave our comfortable home to buy all our nice things.
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​It's human nature to fulfill our needs, wants, and desires. We look to the consumption of material things for that fulfillment. What starts as necessary consumption advances to overconsumption and, for some, can tip over into addiction.

Consumption is finite. Once you consume it, then it's gone. So whatever you're deriving from that consumption only lasts as long as the consumption or the effects of the consumption.

So, if you're looking for happiness by consuming some external source of energy, it is finite. On the flip side, happiness that is derived from internal sources, like creativity, is more long-lasting and sustainable. 

Like most things we talk about, it starts with awareness: how much are you consuming and how does it make you feel?

Your tolerance and response to consumption are individualized. Start with what you want for your life and decide what activities align with the kind of person you want to be or the life you want to live. It takes a lot of self reflection and honesty about how you feel whenever you do consume. 

The consequences of overconsumption are wide-ranging. They may be small, like feeling guilty for spending too much money or eating something not on your diet plan.

Some of the consequences are more impactful and can take more time to manifest, like crushing credit card debt or a chronic disease.

Negative consequences extend past the overconsumption of physical things. We live in the information age, which is easily accessible and thus easy to overconsume. 

Consider researching a big purchase, like a car. It's great that we can look up all the essential info to help us decide. But you can research forever and not get anything because you are paralyzed with indecision. In fact, research shows that the more choices we have, the less happy we'll be with our choice.

And speaking of the information age, we have a 24/7 news cycle and most of it's bad. We hear about all the murders, kidnappings, and rapes. It makes us feel unsafe, and danger lurks around every corner. It can keep us anxious and on edge.