Lynda Moore points out the life traps of pushing to want more and more. Even if you succeed you probably won't be happier or more satisfied. She offers five tips to avoid those traps

I made a very conscious decision to step off the Hedonic Treadmill when Mum and I decided to move to Motueka.  It’s been just over a year since the move, much of which has been consumed with the nearly completed ‘house project’.  However, I feel I’m at a point where I can sit back and reflect on what has changed in my life.

I don’t listen to the traffic report before heading out the door to go to see clients or networking events.

My daily walks with Jett (the labrador), take longer than they need to as we stop and chat with other dog walkers or the neighbours who see us passing.

I don’t use the alarm clock to make sure I start my day; I just wake up and off I go.

I have made some amazing new friends to go exploring the region with, go to music events and spend time with.

I am busier but in a more relaxed way, which I know may sound a bit odd. Many years ago, someone said to me, that sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.  I finally get what they meant.  My business is flourishing, the work that I do with my clients is so much more satisfying, my bank account is much healthier, and I am much happier.

Of course I miss my Auckland friends, instead of driving to see them, we fly; we plan extended trips and are more considered in how we spend our time together.

Getting off the hedonic treadmill has certainly worked for me.

What is the hedonic treadmill?   

The concept of the hedonic treadmill suggests that despite our efforts to increase our income and accumulate wealth, our happiness levels tend to return to a baseline level over time.  This occurs because as we experience improvements in our financial situation, our desires and expectations also increase, leading to a perpetual cycle of striving for more without achieving lasting satisfaction.

Think back to your first job, and how much you got paid.  It probably seemed quite a lot.  I was still living at home, so my living costs were quite low, I remember feeling very wealthy.

Fast forward over the years and having reached what once seemed like an unimaginable income, the desire for more persists.  I know as my income grew, so did my desire for more things, the car (a convertible of course), jewellery, the house and everything in it.  I was most definitely on the hedonic treadmill.

Looking back now and being truly honest with myself. No matter how much I earned, or accomplished, satisfaction remained just out of reach.

How do you get off the hedonic treadmill?

Sometimes it is a life event that forces us to re-evaluate our lives.  Or, maybe it is part of your plan that you can work towards over time. 

It starts with shifting our focus from external sources of validation, such as material possessions and financial achievements, to internal sources of fulfilment.  I know this may sound a bit airy fairy, but don’t dismiss it, give it some thought. 

What are some things that you do that just make you feel good? Walking the dog? Reading a good book? Playing with your kids?  That feeling is what we want more of, and you don’t always need money to get that feeling.

Once you have played with that a bit more, then here are some strategies to help you step off the hedonic treadmill.

1. Practice mindfulness:
   This is the slow down part. Cultivate awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours without judgement.  Mindfulness allows you to appreciate the present moment and find contentment in the here and now, rather than constantly chasing future desires.
2. Cultivate gratitude:
   Regularly express gratitude for the blessings and good things in your life, no matter how small.  I love the sunrise, watching the sky change colour as the sun comes up is just magical. Gratitude shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have, fostering a sense of abundance.
3. Set meaningful goals:
   Forget social comparison. Set goals that align with your values and passions instead of just chasing material wealth or societal expectations. Pursuing goals that are personally meaningful and fulfilling, can provide a sense of purpose and satisfaction that exceeds material wealth.
4. Focus on experiences:
   Experiences such as travel, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones, have been shown to bring more lasting happiness than material goods.  There is nothing wrong with material goods either. I love beautiful things, and I have them in my home.  It’s finding the balance between appreciating what you have and just having stuff for the sake of it.
5. Practice generosity:
   engage in acts of kindness and generosity towards others.  Giving back to your community or helping those in need not only brings joy to others but also fosters a sense of connection and purpose in your own lie.

Here’s a bonus tip.  Stop keeping up with the Jones’s, for all you know the Jones’s could be broke!

You may not be at an age or stage in life, where it’s right for you yet, but it is something that you can plan for, by being conscious and mindful of how you spend your time and money now, to enjoy the fruits of your labour later on.

By incorporating these practices into your life, you too can step off the hedonic treadmill and cultivate a deeper sense of happiness and fulfilment that goes beyond material wealth and external achievements.

*Lynda Moore is a Money Mentalist coach and New Zealand’s only certified New Money Story® mentor. Lynda helps you understand why you do the things you do with your money, when we all know we should spend less than we earn. You can contact her here.