“Stuffocation is a new word which we could easily add to our dictionary. The trend watcher James Wallmann coined the term to describe the feeling that too many things, too much stuff is suffocating our way of life.

Thanks to mass production and global markets, we have access to a huge amount of relatively cheap products which we readily buy … and then store! The explosion of self-storage facilities over the past 10 years testify to the fact that we have too much stuff and too little space to keep it. Not only too little physical space but also too little emotional space. The excess of things is beginning to show us that more is, in fact, less.  

We have reached a clutter crisis. The more we have the more stress this brings. It all has to be managed, used, repaired, stored, maintained – and this is not bringing the satisfaction we expected!

So, what is the antidote for our disease called ‘stuffocation’?

My suggestion is to start giving stuff away; after all it was Jesus Himself who said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Join in the ‘sharing economy’ in which things such as cars, mowers, tools could be shared with family and neighbours.

Downsizing can bring extra space in which to breathe … making your material life smaller can bring much needed space.