I was asked to scan a QR code at the doctor's office today. It brought me to a website where I had to enter personal information and take pictures of my ID and insurance card to upload. While I hope they allow for the old-fashioned process, more and more, I'm asked to use my smartphone for functionality I wasn't looking for when I purchased it.
I highly value several contributions my phone affords. Still, I recall being happy and capable before it became a full presence in my life in 2015. Reflecting on its use, I'm reminded of a quote from Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, "Technology finds most of its uses after it has been invented, rather than being invented to meet a foreseen need."
I'm also reminded of this quote when I work with clients. Many experience the consumeristic pattern of buying things they didn't realize they needed until seeing an ad for the product. Eventually, they find themselves effortlessly clicking on the "Buy Now" button on a website they don't recall seeking out.
We convince ourselves we must buy something as if a product is a question we are forced to answer.
Purchasing is one thing. It can be a kid in a candy store moment dressed up like an adult decision. It feels fun and somehow responsible as we're seemingly completing a task and, optimistically, making a life improvement. However, deciding to keep a thing is another thing. It is often less of a decision and more of a default.
The reasons we believe our stuff is worth keeping range. But in this case, the utility of an item may be couched in the idea that a technology invented is a technology needed. See this assumption for what it is to get to the real work of deciding whether to keep something or let it go. Determine what percent improvement a product offers. If it's significant enough, sift it through the financial and sustainability (e.g., the product's longevity, what it's made from) sieves.
From the sustainability perspective, finding new uses for old things is a cornerstone of avoiding landfill disposal. From that vantage point, reuse is a good thing. However, we tend to take this in a different direction regarding the stuff we own but feel reticent about letting go. We think about ways to reuse it or even give it to someone else who will but has limited follow-through. Often, we find ourselves in this position when we've purchased a technology we didn't realize we needed until after its invention.
Taking a step back, this issue is about choosing whether you want your life to be reactive or proactive. As new products are created and advertised, we must stay true to our values, life goals, and priorities. We must discern when a product or technology solves a need we've hoped would be addressed versus being a nice-to-have. Only then will we have a proactive rather than reactive lifestyle— the cornerstone of minimalism.