Juliana Moves

I love reading blogs. I’m a fan of newsletters, YouTube videos, websites – generally consuming content thoughtfully made about people’s lives or thoughts! It’s interesting to me to read about other people’s perspectives on the world or experiences. I enjoy this when it’s a deep reflection or simply an update about someone’s week! 

I started this blog in 2013, when blogging was presumably having a heyday. My first year of college I read so many blogs about running and nutrition and being a college-aged woman. I loved it, and the style of writing on a blog will always hold a special interest for me! Nowadays, Substack is the cool outlet (though I argue that it’s basically just… blogging), and I do have a few newsletters I like to read from there. Its sudden popularity has led to such an interesting and diverse influx of writers, so what I read there is pretty interesting.

But, as I have been on my own journey to move away from over-consumerism and towards a more sustainable lifestyle (both financially and environmentally), I’ve really started to notice how often it feels like I’m being advertised to in these mediums. Let’s be honest, on more established sites and outlets,  we are all certainly being sold something. There is sponsored content for a reason! But, even in more casual, less-professionalized sources, there seems to be a constant emphasis on buying things. 

If I sit for even a minute, I can think of multiple instances of this. Posts with the sole purpose of sharing links to buy blouses or candles or sunscreen or home decor or random things that’ll just gather dust in my house and my life. Recommendations on how to take advantage of the Nordstrom sale or whatever. Even less obvious persuasion, like posts about someone’s life or house that emphasizes their belongings more than their personhood. It’s sort of maddening to me.

I fully acknowledge that I am choosing to consume this content, so I really shouldn’t complain that much. I could simply stop reading these blogs and newsletters outright, but not all the content is this way! I just find that – when it is a purchase-heavy post – it’s been chafing me more lately! Let’s just… stop buying stuff because someone told us we should? Easier said than done, I know. Purchasing and consumerism are ingrained in our culture as symbols of status and class, so I think perusing online shops and even considering buying things makes us feel good. But only for so long!

Maybe no one else really cares about this. It could be a very personal take for me! I’m just pretty sick and tired of the more, more, more and buy, buy, buy tempo of our culture.

Anyway, I am glad I got that off my chest! I don’t think I encourage needless shopping here on my little blog, but I certainly will maintain an awareness of it from here on out. Chances are, you have enough stuff already. I know I do!

I hope you are resisting the urge that capitalism so gleefully encourages!

Love,

JN