Back in the day, when I was just a little girl, there were a few popular things: Furbys, Tamagotchis, and Pokémon. Back then, you would discover new trends through friends, television commercials, or maybe magazines. But with social media, everything changed.

While there used to be only one or two big trends at a time, these days trends come and go faster than ever. Before you even realize something is trending, it’s already over. And while I do like some trends, I’ve never really bought into them unless I truly wanted them.

So today, I want to inspire you by sharing reasons to stop buying into trends.

8 Reasons To Stop Buying Trends

1. Trends Come and Go
   As I mentioned, even before social media, we had things that were extremely popular and trendy. I had a Furby and a Tamagotchi, too. But trends used to last much longer. Last year, around April/May, Labubus were everywhere. It was hard not to see a TikTok video of people unboxing them. But now, a year later, we barely talk about them anymore. You can even find Stanley Cups at thrift stores. Trends move so much faster these days. Before you even get a Labubu, it’s already out of style, and people have moved on to the next trend. If you buy something trendy and you genuinely love it, that’s completely fine. But if you’re only buying it to make a TikTok or just because it’s trending, just stop.
   
2. You Don’t Develop a Personal Style
   I’m using Labubus as an example, but everyone was buying them. The lines in front of stores were crazy. People were literally standing in line for hours. But if you always follow trends, you never develop your own personal style or even your personality. You become a copy of everyone else. Everyone owns the same things and wears the same clothes because it’s trendy. It gets boring. Try to figure out what you like. What kind of clothing style do you enjoy? What do you actually want to wear? Ask yourself those questions. And yes, if a trend genuinely fits your style, it’s okay to buy it, but only if it aligns with who you are.
   
3. It Leads to Overconsumption
   Something I’ve noticed is that people don’t just buy one Labubu, Stanley Cup, or NeeDoh; they buy a whole collection in one shopping trip. And they might never even use it. Why do you need 10 Stanley Cups? How thirsty are you? Right now, I see people buying bags full of NeeDohs. I understand they can be helpful as sensory tools, just like fidget spinners. But why do you need so many? This is how overconsumption happens. Most of these items end up at thrift stores, or worse, in landfills.
   
4. You Don’t Need It to Be Relevant
   If everyone is making Labubu videos, that doesn’t mean you have to buy one and do the same. If you don’t like them, just don’t buy them. It doesn’t make you less worthy or less relevant. And if people think you are “less” because you don’t own a Labubu or a Stanley Cup, that’s their problem, not yours. You are already good enough. Things don’t define your worth.
   
5. It’s Expensive
   One Labubu costs around €20–30, which is already quite expensive for a keychain. Now, imagine buying multiple trendy items; it adds up quickly. You’re spending money on things you might not even truly like. Of course, it’s your money, and you can do whatever you want with it. But chances are, you’ll regret buying 20 Labubus, 10 Stanley Cups, and a bag full of NeeDohs that you won’t use again. That money could go toward things you actually love.
   
6. Lower Quality
   Just because something is trendy doesn’t mean it’s good quality. This especially applies to fast fashion. I’ve ordered from Shein once, and I wouldn’t do it again. You can tell the quality is lower compared to stores like H&M or even Primark. Fast trends mean fast production, which often leads to cheaper materials and items that don’t last long. That’s why I like shopping at thrift stores; you can still find high-quality pieces. Although these days, you’ll also find a lot of Shein items there, too.
   
7. You End Up with a Closet Full of “Nothing to wear.”
   Clothes can make you feel a certain way. But when you buy fast fashion trends, you don’t really think about whether you like the item or how it makes you feel. You have to be more intentional with what you wear. Choose clothes that make you feel confident, bold, sexy, empowered, whatever you want to feel. If you only buy trendy items, they’ll go out of style quickly, and nothing will truly match your style.
   
8. It Disconnects You from Intentional Living
   When you’re constantly on your phone, seeing people tell you what to buy, you stop living intentionally. You have to reconnect with what you actually love. One thing I like to do is keep a wishlist. When I see something I like online, I don’t buy it right away; I add it to my list. If I still love it after at least a month, then I consider buying it. Most of the time, when I look back at my wishlist, I realize I don’t even want those things anymore.

Photo by Declan Sun on Unsplash

The post 8 Reasons to Stop Buying Trends first appeared on A happy life.

<p>The post 8 Reasons to Stop Buying Trends first appeared on A happy life.</p>

Hey there, fellow Social Media Lovers! Today, let’s talk about something that’s become a ubiquitous part of our digital lives: TikTok brain. Yep, you read that right. It’s not just a catchy phrase; it’s a real phenomenon that many of us might be experiencing without even realizing it. And even though it is called the TikTok brain, it doesn´t mean that this is only affecting people who spend a lot of time on TikTok. You could also call it simply the Social media brain, but that is probably way less catchy than the TikTok brain.

What is a TikTok brain?

So, what exactly is a TikTok brain? Well, it’s not a medical condition per se, but rather a term that describes the mental effects of spending too much time scrolling through social media, particularly platforms like TikTok. You know how it goes: you open the app for a quick laugh or some entertainment, and before you know it, hours have flown by, and you’ve watched an endless stream of videos ranging from hilarious to downright bizarre.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing inherently wrong with enjoying some viral videos or connecting with friends online. But when social media usage starts to consume a significant chunk of your day, it can start to take a toll on your brain. And spending too many hours is the only problem. Just using it and watching super short videos every single time, decreases your attention span, which makes it harder for you to focus on one thing for a longer time.

How do you know if you have a TikTok brain?

One of the main cons of spending excessive time on social media is the impact it can have on your mental health. Studies have shown that heavy social media use is associated with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Constantly comparing ourselves to others’ curated highlight reels can also lead to a negative self-image and decreased self-esteem.

Moreover, the endless scrolling and constant dopamine hits from likes and comments can wreak havoc on our attention spans. We become accustomed to quick, bite-sized content, making it harder to concentrate on tasks that require deeper focus and sustained attention. You are going to be less focused and less patient. You want everything fast and don’t want to wait.

How to fix your TikTok Brain?

I am going to be honest and say that I am also experiencing this phenomenon. I have Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter and it is so easy to consume content immediately. You don’t have to wait and because all of those videos are short, I don’t have the patience to watch a video longer than 30 seconds. If I am looking for some information about a topic and I watch a video about it, I want answers immediately. I don’t want to watch a 10-minute video. So yeah, you could say I am also experiencing the TikTok brain, but I am trying to fix it and I want to give you my tips.

1. Set Boundaries: Establish specific times of day for social media use and stick to them. Consider using apps or built-in phone features that allow you to set limits on your screen time. For example, I give myself 15 minutes to socialize on social media, which is more than enough. I take time to react to comments and to comment on other photos. After 15 minutes I put my phone away.
2. Take Breaks: Incorporate regular breaks from social media into your daily routine. Use this time to engage in offline activities like reading, exercising, or spending time with loved ones. Or maybe you could take longer breaks, maybe you want to do a detox for a day/weekend or even a week.
3. Practice Mindfulness: Be mindful of your social media usage and how it makes you feel. If you notice yourself starting to feel anxious or overwhelmed, take a step back and reassess your priorities. Mindfulness can also mean you take time to meditate and practice slow-living, which will increase your patience and focus.
4. Engage Intentionally: Instead of mindlessly scrolling, try to engage more intentionally with the content you consume. Follow accounts that inspire and educate you, and limit exposure to content that leaves you feeling drained or inadequate. Don’t scroll on your social media platforms, because you’re bored. If you’re bored, find something else to focus on.
5. Connect Offline: Make an effort to cultivate real-life connections with friends and family. Plan outings, game nights, or simply catch up over a cup of coffee. Nothing beats genuine human interaction. Yeah, social media can be a way to meet new people, but real-life relationships are good for your mental health.
6. Reading: One thing that is helping me a lot is to read more instead of scrolling. So instead of scrolling on my phone when I come home from work, I read. This is also improving my focus. At first, I couldn’t focus for very long. While I was reading, I had to pick up my phone several times just to check if I had new messages or notifications. But I can already tell that my brain is changing because I can now easily read for a very long time without checking my phone.

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

The post TikTok Brain: Navigating the Pitfalls of Social Media Overload first appeared on A happy life.

<p>The post TikTok Brain: Navigating the Pitfalls of Social Media Overload first appeared on A happy life.</p>