Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing us down more than they lift us up.

As part of our series on spring cleaning your wellbeing, Dr. Laurie explores why material things so often fail to make us happier, and why experiences are usually a better investment in our long-term wellbeing. Along the way, she talks with psychologist Bruce Hood, researcher Amit Kumar, and writer Cait Flanders, who reflects on the psychological benefits of shifting from a maximalist lifestyle to a minimalist one.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s actually worth the time and effort to clean out your closet, this episode offers some answers.

Experts Mentioned:
Bruce Hood, professor of developmental psychology in society at the University of Bristol
Amit Kumar, assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas at Austin
Cait Flanders, author of The Year of Less and Adventures in Opting Out
Richard Easterlin, economist and professor at the University of Southern California, originator of the Easterlin Paradox

Resources Mentioned:
Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need, by Bruce Hood (2019)
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store, by Cait Flanders (2018)
“Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence” by Richard A. Easterlin (Nations and Households in Economic Growth, 1974)

Related Episodes:
"The Unhappy Millionaire"
"Why Giving Money to Others Makes Us Happier"
"You Can't Always Want What You Like"

Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing us down more than they lift us up.
As part of our series on spring cleaning your wellbeing, Dr. Laurie explores why material things so often fail to make us happier, and why experiences are usually a better investment in our long-term wellbeing. Along the way, she talks with psychologist Bruce Hood, researcher Amit Kumar, and writer Cait Flanders, who reflects on the psychological benefits of shifting from a maximalist lifestyle to a minimalist one.
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered whether it&rsquo;s actually worth the time and effort to clean out your closet, this episode offers some answers.
Experts Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://brucemhood.wordpress.com/">Bruce Hood</a>, professor of developmental psychology in society at the University of Bristol</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kumar-amit.com/">Amit Kumar</a>, assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas at Austin</li>
<li><a href="https://www.caitflanders.com/">Cait Flanders</a>, author of The Year of Less and Adventures in Opting Out</li>
<li><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pBYzJL8AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Richard Easterlin</a>, economist and professor at the University of Southern California, originator of the Easterlin Paradox</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/possessed/id1472993321">Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need</a>, by Bruce Hood (2019)</li>
<li><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-year-of-less/id1420584142">The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store</a>, by Cait Flanders (2018)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://huwdixon.org/teaching/cei/Easterlin1974.pdf">Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence</a>&rdquo; by Richard A. Easterlin (Nations and Households in Economic Growth, 1974)</li>
</ul>
Related Episodes:
<ul>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/the-unhappy-millionaire">The Unhappy Millionaire</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/giving-tuesday-why-giving-money-to-others-makes-us-happier">Why Giving Money to Others Makes Us Happier</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/you-cant-always-want-what-you-like">You Can't Always Want What You Like</a>"</li>
</ul>

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2cd84ad8-a301-4096-8315-b43601345a6e/transcript