Resolutions: New year, Old Stuff
The new year usually comes with resolutions. Many people come up with promises for themselves, often to make things better one way or another: more exercise, less worrying, more travel, less spending. Though many people find it hard to stick with those resolutions, for others, they make the year better.
I am one of those who get excited to plan out resolutions, but seldom do I remember to check how I’m doing with them, never mind seeing the list completed. Still, laying out a list of things to do prepares the brain to be more active in those areas, even without evaluating the progress.
Thinking about the resolutions is part of the fun.
This year was different. With lots of things happening in life, I rushed into 2026. Only around mid-January did I realize that this was one of the rare years when I didn’t think of any resolutions for 2026. I didn’t have time to think about what I want to learn, experience, or change; what kind of space I want to create for myself, for a better me and life in 2026.
Of course, with the realization came the thinking. A quick reflection made it clear: I don’t want anything new in this coming year. On the contrary, I want to stick with old stuff, mostly in terms of material things but also old knowledge and experiences. 2026 will be a No Buy year for my household and a year to recycle what is already known in my mental space – at least to a degree.
I am already not into shopping. But even if one isn’t hugely fond of shopping, things accumulate pretty easily, perhaps as a materialization of lived life. Sometimes it is thanks to gifts from friends and family, sometimes free goods from workplaces and events, at times impulse buying, or simply the will to acquire new things. Yet it is often the case that we live with only a small portion of the stuff we own and keep most of it in closets with the idea of perhaps one day using it. Not owning or keeping things that may be used one day in the future means more space, less maintenance, and more care for the self.
So, my resolution is simple: make 2026 a No Buy year. Ultimately, the main goal is to own less stuff by the end of the year than I do now. Of course, a No Buy year itself is nothing new, and there are many ways to do it realistically. People have been doing it to save money, to be more conscious of their consumption habits, and to avoid growing their household goods. In my case, it is also to pay respect to what I already have by actually using it.
This is easier said than done. That’s why there are some guiding rules for myself, and hopefully for others too:
No Buy means no buying unnecessary items. This includes clothing, stationery, home décor, or even snacks. To keep the No Buy going, take note of what you bought and why after each purchase.
Define what is essential so that you know what is okay to purchase without feeling guilty. If something significantly improves day-to-day quality of life, then it can be accepted as essential.
Thank you for the gift, but I will be returning it – if I know for a fact that I won’t use it. This can quickly feel rude,but I will practice gently rejecting gifts or hand-me-downs as they pile up and create clutter of their own. So, I’ll either return gifts, exchange them for something I actually need, or regift them (Sorry!).
Check if it is something that can be rented or borrowed.
Consume what you have first. This means not reducing the idea of ownership to sparking joy. Instead, bring a level of respect – yes, respect to the items, but also to the people who made them, the resources that went into their creation, and my former self who thought it was a good idea to purchase them. So, survey what you already own and use it up. To help with this, rearrange your cupboards and closets so that the items nearing the end of their life cycle are more visible.
Make gifts with what you have at home instead of buying gifts for friends and family. This step is especially clever as it means you’re also using up some hobby materials while being creative.
Let’s see how my home will look at the end of the year. So far, it has been more than a month without buying anything besides food that I actually eat. The list will be evaluated in December to see how I did. Join me and share your own progress!
