Our stuff has turned against us. Abundance rather than scarcity is the new horror of our age, and the more goods we acquire, the less satisfaction they provide. In fact, surplus possessions are increasingly responsible for anxiety, depression and even physical danger.
In his best-selling “Stuffocation,” journalist and trend forecaster James Wallman argues that we are reaching the end of materialism, and posits ‘experientialism’ as a new dominant lifestyle. Pleasure would come from experiences such as bungee jumps and holidays, rather than cars and jewelry. “It feels better to do stuff than to have stuff,” as he succinctly puts it.
With a new edition, the author goes beyond lifestyle to examine how this fundamental shift will affect our working lives.
“We experience material pressure at work too — it can be worse than at home,” says Wallman, pointing out the number of status symbols, from clothes to desk ornaments, which can make an office feel like an arms race.
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Looking even further ahead, Wallman is excited by the possibilities of automation to give workers even more freedom, including permanent disruption of the five-day week.
As with all social trends, the shift to experientialism must work its way through the early adopters, but Wallman believes it will rapidly become a universal touchstone, offering value for businesses and fulfillment for employees.
“It may seem like fantasy,” he says. “But the standard of living changed incredibly in the 20th century, and the shift from materialism will experientialism will transform quality of life in the 21st century. When we go to work, it will be to enjoy ourselves.”
