If and when we realize that overconsumption is causing our problems, we’re often told the solution is to simply shoot for less. Eat less food to lose weight. Buy less stuff or throw out excess stuff to spark joy. Spend less time on our screens to be happier. Do less work to avoid anxiety and burnout. Spend less money to fix our finances or overhaul our business. But less, I’d uncover, comes with its own set of problems. And some robust new research shows that blindly aiming for less can change us for the worse. There are even times we should lean into excess.
