Learning is mostly associated with school and studying, but getting a degree doesn’t mean you have to be done with it. The world is ours to explore. There are so many things we know so little about and even more we don’t know about at all. That’s what makes it so exciting. Learning is a lifelong activity. It happens unintentionally through our experiences, the challenges we face, and the people we meet. But we can make the entirely conscious decision to broaden our horizons by learning a new skill or diving into a new fascination. Learning, admittedly, needs some effort. You have to invest time and may need patience until you feel rewarded. In comparison, the immediate dopamine kick hitting us when purchasing a new piece is tempting. But it is also short-lived.
There are tons of activities at least as exciting as shopping and probably more rewarding in the long term. In the future, let our real interests and inner needs guide us. We are more than the clothing we own and too much of individuals to embody the trend-driven fashion world personally.
What to Learn?
Instead of shopping to connect with fashion you could learn about it. Every trend that emerges from the past has its history which can be really interesting. You could also read about the history of your favorite trends or designers, read fashion-related articles and look at current collections or try to get creative yourself. We could start with our own closet and the things we already own. With a fresh look and some new inspiration, surely there are still some new outfits to be found. And inspiration is all around, not on social media, but for example in nature, history, and the places we’ve been to.
Creation over Consumption.
Maybe you even feel inspired to learn a new craft like crocheting or knitting and can make your own clothes exactly as you imagine them. You could repair the clothes you already have by trying out a variety of mending and repair techniques or upcycle the pieces you don’t wear anymore. Creating something can feel really relieving. Every day we get so much input, especially on social media; we need to have some output. It doesn’t need to be sewing or crafting; it can be cooking, baking, or painting. The main thing is to do it for the purpose of enjoying it. And the more often you do it, the more you will learn about it and get better.
Spending the day
Learning something new doesn’t always need to be as time intensive as learning to knit from scratch. For example, instead of doomscrolling, you could watch an interesting documentary or read a book about a topic that catches your attention. It can also be a nice weekend activity, like wandering around in a museum or taking part in a workshop. If you look for it, you could also find public lectures or presentations in your region. Suddenly, learning sounds like a fun and relaxing way to spend your time.
Being open and wanting to learn opens many doors and allows us to experience new things. Things that make our life richer and more diverse. Learning has a long-term effect, whether it’s a new craft, a new language, or reading a book. They all have one thing in common: they help us grow. And that is worth a lot more than the fleeting happiness after a shopping trip. Obviously, wanting to learn and wanting to go on a shopping trip can coexist, but the main takeaway is that we don’t need to chase the newest trend pieces or buy new clothes for every event. There are more important and way more interesting things in life. And we shouldn’t forget that. We should start thinking about what REALLY brings us joy.
So, what if we learned something new instead of buying something new? In the end, it is probably quite simple and we would be closer to the feeling of fulfillment.
